Denmark and the Netherlands are leading the way with internationally recognized research in the agricultural and food areas but there is a need to accelerate the green transition - because it is urgent!

On Friday 22 September 2023, Aarhus University and Wageningen University & Research will therefore sign a strategic collaboration agreement which is expected to contribute with groundbreaking results within research and development of the sustainable food of the future and the transformation of agriculture. Eskild Holm Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Aarhus University, explains:

"The collaboration has  the potential to change the global transformation of the entire agricultural and food sector and create crucial solutions that can accelerate the green transition. We have a vision to create unique synergies between our internationally recognized and leading research areas and if we are to really move the green transition it requires a balanced but disruptive, systemic transition. We can only create this through collaboration and mission-driven research across sectors", the dean says.

The agreement will be marked by an official signing ceremony in the Frandsen Hall at Aarhus University where it will be signed by Rector Arthur Mol, Wageningen University & Research and Rector of Aarhus University, Brian Bech Nielsen.

"On the surface, this document signals a shared desire to intensify our existing collaboration and explore new opportunities to connect our universities closer together. But on a deeper level, the agreement symbolizes that Wageningen and Aarhus – and Denmark and the Netherlands as a whole – understand the challenges ahead. Not just for our respective countries but for the entire globe," says Brian Bech Nielsen.

Paving the way for more plant-based foods

One of Denmark's largest food companies, Arla Foods, is pleased with the new collaboration between Aarhus University and Wageningen University & Research and hopes that it can pave the way for plants to be included in Arla's product portfolio to an even greater extent in the future:

 "At Arla Foods we have great expectations in regards to sustainable food. My hope is that we can find crops that can provide protein, fibre and other nutrients that either alone or as an integral part of compound foods can support a healthy and tasty diet that is also sustainable and can be put together at an affordable price," says Peder Tuborgh, CEO, Arla Foods.

At the Department of Food Science at Aarhus University research is being conducted into the development of more sustainable and plant-based foods and Associate Professor Ulla Kidmose sees great prospects in the collaboration with Wageningen University & Research:

"To meet the global food demand for plant-based foods it is necessary to rethink ways of producing plant-based products such as vertical farming, and new plant-based products, such as legumes. The quality and consumer acceptance of new plant-based foods and new forms of production is very unclear. But it is of great importance for whether it will be a market success in relation to whether it is something that tastes and resembles existing products. Here I see great potential in the collaboration with Wageningen," she says.

Denmark as a showcase for the green transition

After the official signing ceremony Aarhus University and Arla Foods have invited leading Danish players in the form of companies, politicians and research institutions to a "Roundtable" in which the Dutch ambassador and a delegation from Wageningen will participate. Here they will discuss how Denmark and the Netherlands can jointly accelerate the production of the sustainable food of the future and ensure the green transition of the entire agricultural and food sector.

"We already have a very good collaboration with Wageningen in relation to the START centre and Plant2Food. There is no doubt that in Denmark, with our research, innovation and business collaboration, we have great potential to become a showcase for the green transition. We can and should be proud of that. But the efforts that are needed require cross-collaboration - together we can do more. The transformation of the food system can only happen through an integrated, inclusive and multidisciplinary approach and with a strong commitment from government, businesses, science and civil society", Eskild Holm Nielsen concludes.