A high-level Dutch Horticulture Trade Mission to Ghana, organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana in collaboration with East-West Trade, the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), and other strategic partners, successfully concluded a five-day strategic program from Tuesday, October 28, to November 1, 2025. The mission convened 14 prominent Dutch agribusinesses and expert organisations to deepen bilateral cooperation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and explore critical investment opportunities within Ghana’s rapidly expanding horticulture sector.
The mission’s activities were anchored by participation in the 7th Edition of the Agrofood & Plastprintpack Fair in Accra, where the Dutch pavilion significantly expanded its footprint. Dr. Rens Twijnstra, Head of Economic Affairs at the Embassy, highlighted the growing Dutch commitment, noting that their pavilion had doubled in size this year. The 14 participating Dutch companies, including industry leaders such as Advance Consulting, Bakker Brothers, Celtic Cooling, East-West Seeds, and Koppert, showcased cutting-edge innovations in climate-smart agriculture, seed technology, and sustainable value chain development, symbolising the deepening economic partnership between the two nations.
A cornerstone of the mission was the official launch of the Ghana Seed Partnership (GSP) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, following months of dedicated preparation and sector assessment. This new partnership is designed to foster a robust collaboration between public and private stakeholders from Ghana and the Netherlands, with the overarching goal of building a sustainable, high-performing seed sector. This focus is crucial for empowering smallholder farmers and accelerating Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda. H.E. Jeroen Verheul, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana, marked the occasion by stating that the countries were “quite literally, planting a seed for deeper and more structured cooperation.” The GSP, which will be implemented by GNBCC and Advance Consulting with support from RVO and the Embassy, unites 13 key players, including Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Rijk Zwaan, and Truvalu. Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah, Director of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, reaffirmed the government’s full commitment, stressing the partnership’s alignment with national priorities for seed production, certification, and commercialisation. The event concluded with a symbolic seed planting and sod-cutting ceremony, signifying the commencement of this new phase of cooperation.
Beyond Accra, the delegation also conducted field visits to the North, engaging with key stakeholders and policymakers in Tamale to gain regional insights and identify areas for Dutch contribution, particularly in sustainable horticultural development and promoting organic farming for enhanced soil health. Furthermore, two significant research findings were presented at the Netherlands Pavilion. Dr. Naalamle Amissah of the West Africa Horticulture Innovation Hub presented an “Assessment of Horticultural Seedling Business Opportunities in Ghana,” while a discussion focused on “Access to Finance for the Smallholder Horticulture Sector,” using the recent Financial Landscape Study by Advance Consulting. This study highlighted persistent barriers like high interest rates and low financial literacy, yet simultaneously identified a considerable investment potential exceeding GH¢160 million across a network of roughly 8,000 farmers, underscoring the urgent need for collaborative, data-driven innovation to make agricultural finance more inclusive. The visit concluded with a networking dinner hosted by the Regional Minister, John Adolf Ali, further cementing ties between the regions and the Dutch delegation.
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The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, in partnership with East-West Trade, the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), and other stakeholders, successfully executed a high-impact Dutch Horticulture Trade Mission to Ghana from Tuesday, October 28, to November 1, 2025. This strategic five-day program brought together 14 leading Dutch agribusinesses and expert organisations for a mission designed to strengthen cooperation, facilitate critical knowledge exchange, and explore future partnerships in Ghana’s rapidly accelerating horticulture sector.
The mission’s activities spanned participation in the 7th Edition of the Agrofood & Plastprintpack Fair in Accra, field visits to horticultural sites in the North, and targeted matchmaking sessions with Ghanaian businesses in both Accra and Tamale. The presence of the Netherlands at the Agrofood Fair was visibly augmented; Dr. Rens Twijnstra, Head of Economic Affairs at the Embassy, highlighted the sector’s growing dynamism by noting that the Dutch pavilion had doubled in size this year. The 14 participating companies—including industry giants like East-West Seeds, Koppert, and Celtic Cooling—showcased a range of innovations in climate-smart agriculture, seed technology, and sustainable value chain development, signalling a deepening bilateral commitment.
A major institutional outcome of the mission was the official launch of the Ghana Seed Partnership (GSP) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Following months of dedicated preparatory work and a detailed assessment of the seed sector, the GSP was established by the Netherlands Embassy and its partners to enable robust collaboration between public and private actors from both countries. Project Managers Mr. Fred Frimpong and Ms. Nieke Westerik explained that the partnership focuses on generating sustainable, market-driven solutions aimed at building a high-performing seed sector crucial for supporting smallholder farmers and advancing national agricultural transformation. H.E. Jeroen Verheul, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana, emphasised the forward-looking nature of the initiative, stating, “We are, quite literally, planting a seed for deeper and more structured cooperation.” Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah, Director of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment, noting the GSP’s alignment with national priorities in seed production, certification, and commercialisation. The GSP consortium includes 13 key stakeholders, among them Wageningen University and Research (WUR) and key private sector players like Rijk Zwaan and Bakker Brothers.
In addition to the GSP launch, the Embassy’s program featured the presentation of two key research studies at the Netherlands Pavilion. Dr. Naalamle Amissah from the West Africa Horticulture Innovation Hub presented an “Assessment of Horticultural Seedling Business Opportunities in Ghana,” which explored the potential for professional seedling production to enhance yields and create new agribusiness ventures. This was followed by an engaging discussion on financing, anchored by the recently published Financial Landscape Study by Advance Consulting. The study revealed persistent barriers such as high interest rates and limited credit access, but optimistically identified an investment potential of over GH¢160 million across a network of approximately 8,000 farmers, underscoring the urgent need for collaborative, data-driven innovation to foster inclusive agricultural finance.
The trade mission extended its focus to northern Ghana with a significant visit to Tamale. This leg of the journey was designed to gain regional insights, engage with local policymakers, and identify specific areas where Dutch expertise could support sustainable horticultural development, particularly in promoting organic farming to enhance soil health and yield nutritious crops. The comprehensive visit concluded with a networking dinner alongside the Regional Minister, John Adolf Ali, solidifying relationships and setting the stage for future regional collaboration.
