Blue River Concepts
Mixing the Worlds of Clustering and Agrifood, Experiences from the Netherlands
Frank EetgerinkBlue River ConceptsThe Netherlands
Parallel Session 3.2: Clusters Promoting Cooperation and Effective Convergence between Industries
Blue River Concepts
Collaboration in agrifoodHistorical roots
• Often very old resilient traditions, conservative• Hardened by dependency on unpredictable
external conditions (weather, diseases, war, etc.)• From local community collaboration to
cooperatives and large farms• Strong individual / family entrepreneurship
Agriculture: from traditional production towards chain production
Raw Materials
Processing
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Simplified Value Chain
Raw materials Agriculture Food pro-cessing Retail Consumer
Logistics
Trade
Innovation
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Modern agrifoodCompetitive market driven entrepreneurship
• Up scaling, intensification, industrialization• Long and complex (global) value chains• Global markets• Innovation driven (IT, Robotics, Gene Tech, light)• From farmer to industrial entrepreneur
Vertical integration in chainsExample: Broiler Chain
Primary Production
Raw Materials
Primary Processing
Secondary Processing
Trade & Logistics
Retail
Breeding
EggProduction
Broilers
Slaughtering
Trade & Logistics
Retail
Mother Animals
Genetics
Corn and Soy Production
Raw M
aterials
ConcentratesProduction
Processing
Horizontal integration between chains
Primary Production
Raw Materials
Primary Processing
Secondary Processing
Trade & Logistics
Retail
Trade & Logistics
Retail
Primary Production
Raw Materials
Primary Processing
Secondary Processing
Primary Production
Raw Materials
Primary Processing
Secondary Processing
Primary Processing
Secondary Processing
Future Agriculture: from chain production to-wards Food Clusters (Agropark)
Raw Materials
Processing
Raw Materials
Processing
Raw Materials
Processing
Food Clusters
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Clusters & Agrifood• Agrifood is changing into modern industrial
business, process industry• Different roots/background
• Special: spatial and environmental constraints• Quadruple helix essential – license to produce
• Different but similar collaboration systems
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Case Almelo, NL
• Problem owner/client: local government• Challenge: turn unsalable land into profitable rural
development• Goal: economic growth and employment and
compensation for financial losses
Process starts with concept design and stakeholder involvement
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Agriculture: urban farming Agriculture: intensive livestock farming
Care: care farmTourism: theme park
Energy farming
Education: institute
Nature: village estate
Agropark: Rondeel eggs
Most suitable option
Chosen option
Blue River Concepts
Learning points• No entrepreneurs were willing to take the risks• Threat for more traditional farmers and local people• No consortium was organized to deliver the
business case
• Collaboration on closing loops and resource use efficiency was needed, complex task, too early• Clustering could have been a solution
(Now: discussion re-emerges)
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Case
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Umbrella organization for 5 clusters
• Mushroom Cluster• Avenue Trees Cluster• Fruit Cluster• Horticulture Bommelerwaard• Horticulture Arnhem-Nijmegen
Greenport Gelderland
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Good practice• Mature triple helix, 10th anniversary• Entrepreneurs strongly involved, project oriented• Umbrella organization facilitates clusters, interface
for government• Every cluster a cluster manager, pact facilitator• Every cluster is different in goals, ambitions; locally
grounded, regionally funded• Inspired by mature cluster organization Food Valley
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Final remarks• From farmers to normal industrial entrepreneurs• Collaboration evolved from individual entrepreneur
into cooperatives and now into clusters • Modern agrifood businesses can learn from
clusters: ‘normal’ clusters• Cluster manager, common agenda, trust building,
shared vision and goals, branding, managing external relations• Spatial element and license to produce differ
Blue River Concepts
Join the discussions: TCI Working Group
Metropolitan Food Clustershttps://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8197201
Frank [email protected] / +31 6 5342 0839
Blue River Concepts
Q&A
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