DUTCH AGRIBUSINESS: THE CHANGING ROLES IN THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN

摘要

The success of the Dutch agricultural sector can only be understood by an analysis of the full chain of activities from seed improvement to the consumer tastes. Besides to the positive impact of public policies with respect to research, education andextension services, it is the fruitful co-operation of entrepreneurs, horizontally and vertically that can explain the progressive development of the Dutch agricultural sector. The profitable use of new technologies has only been possible by organisational innovations and structural changes of the whole chain.The supply of inputs and services for the agricultural sector, as well as the processing of raw materials from the sector do impact the results of the agricultural household. These functions could not always been taken for granted and therefore farmers had to take initiative to overcome shortcomings in the supply chain. On the other hand stimuli from the supply chain have roused farmers to adapt to new technological challenges. The Netherlands is a small, densely populated country (over 450 persons persq km). Not with standing the fact that the agricultural sector has little more than two million hectares to cultivate. The Netherlands have become one of the biggest exporters of agricultural products and a large importer too. How can we understand these figures and what can we learn from it? Since the founding of the Dutch Kingdom and even before that date, international trade has played an important role in the Netherlands. If the agricultural sector has become a dominant player in the internationalmarket there seems to be some logic with respect to an old reputation. At least it is of interest to see what the relation between this history and the success of the agricultural sector has been. This paper analyses the development of Dutch agribusiness in the 20~(th) century and the positive effects on the agricultural sector of the Netherlands. It will go into the role of co-operatives and private business with respect to different sectors and show the continuing changes during the last century. This paper will end with a few comments on future development in the light of an enlargement of the European Union (EU), internationalisation of food markets and the increasing sophistication of consumer tastes in the wealthy part of the world.