Kenya is looking to deepen cooperation with the Netherlands in agricultural technology, food storage and processing as it seeks to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the value of farm produce.
Kenyan Ambassador to the Netherlands Halima Mucheke said a visit to Flevoland Province had exposed the Kenyan delegation to technologies and business models that could help transform agricultural production and value addition at home.
The delegation visited companies specialising in smart technology, food storage, innovation and food-processing machinery, including VEGNIEK, OMNIVENT, ANDELA and BORNCUT, as well as players in the potato industry involved in research, production and modern farm management.
Mucheke said the experience demonstrated how technology can be integrated across the agricultural value chain, from production and storage to processing and manufacturing.
The visit also highlighted the potential for cooperation in renewable energy, drones, smart mobility, research and technology transfer.
Flevoland’s experience is particularly relevant to Kenya because the province has developed an agriculture-based economy on reclaimed land through long-term planning, modern technology and investment in infrastructure.
The ambassador said Kenya could draw lessons from the province’s ability to combine agriculture with research, manufacturing, renewable energy and innovation rather than treating farming as a stand-alone activity.
The delegation also travelled through the Oostvaardersplassen and Nieuw Land National Park, where they observed the region’s approach to land reclamation, water management, nature conservation and regional development.
Mucheke said the experience demonstrated that transforming a region requires a shared long-term vision and cooperation across sectors.
For Kenya, the emerging opportunities include partnerships in smart farming, modern storage systems, agro-processing, renewable energy, research and development, and technology transfer.
The ambassador said the lessons from Flevoland showed that agricultural transformation is not only about increasing production but also about building systems that enable farmers to preserve, process and add value to what they produce.
She said the Netherlands’ experience could provide useful partnerships as Kenya seeks to modernise its food systems and create more opportunities around agriculture.
“The experience reinforced one important lesson: when ambition is shared, differences can become strengths, and partnerships can turn vision into reality,” Mucheke said
