MINISTERIE VAN LANDBOUW, VISSERIJ, VOEDSELZEKERHEID EN NATUUR

Their core work

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is the Netherlands' national policy authority for agriculture, food safety, fisheries, and nature conservation. In H2020, it acts as a funding body and policy partner in ERA-NET Cofund actions, co-financing transnational research calls on sustainable agriculture, food systems, animal health, and climate-related land use. Its participation channels Dutch national research priorities into European joint programming, ensuring alignment between EU research agendas and Dutch agricultural policy. It brings regulatory perspective, national co-funding capacity, and access to the Dutch agri-food innovation ecosystem.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early H2020 participation (2015–2017) concentrated on resource efficiency, sustainable intensification of agriculture, and biomass/biorefinery — reflecting a production-oriented agenda focused on making farming more efficient. From 2018 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward food system resilience, climate adaptation, animal disease preparedness, and digital agriculture, with larger funding commitments to projects like FOSC, ICRAD, and ICT-AGRI-FOOD. This mirrors a broader Dutch and EU policy pivot from agricultural productivity toward food security under climate pressure and One Health concerns.

Moving toward climate-adaptive food systems, animal disease preparedness, and digital agriculture — expect growing interest in projects combining these themes.

How they like to work

Exclusively a participant, never a coordinator — consistent with its role as a national funding ministry that co-finances ERA-NET calls rather than leading research. Works in very large consortia (125 unique partners across 48 countries), meaning it connects to a vast network of research funders and national agencies across Europe and beyond. This makes the ministry a gateway to Dutch national co-funding for transnational research rather than a hands-on research partner.

Connected to 125 unique partners across 48 countries — an exceptionally wide network reflecting its role in ERA-NET Cofunds that bring together national funding agencies from across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Geographic reach extends well beyond Europe through projects like LEAP-AGRI (Africa) and FOSC (Africa, Americas, Europe).

What sets them apart

As a national ministry rather than a research institute, it brings something most consortium partners cannot: direct access to Dutch agricultural policy priorities and national co-funding for transnational research calls. The Netherlands is Europe's second-largest agricultural exporter, so Dutch policy alignment carries significant weight for agri-food research agendas. For consortium builders, partnering with this ministry means access to the Dutch national research funding pipeline and policy endorsement for food and agriculture topics.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ICRAD
  Largest single funding commitment (EUR 469K) and addresses the critical intersection of animal health, antimicrobial resistance, and disease prevention — a growing policy priority post-COVID.
• FOSC
  Second-largest budget (EUR 437K) with true global scope covering Africa, Americas, and Europe — signals the ministry's commitment to international food security under climate change.
• LEAP-AGRI
  Long-term EU-Africa partnership on food and nutrition security (EUR 294K), demonstrating the ministry's role in development-oriented agricultural research beyond European borders.