Roadmap 2026: Combating food waste

A mission by the Netherlands Agricultural Network to the UAE and Saudi Arabia reveals that Gulf countries are struggling with food loss of up to 35%, paving the way for Dutch Cold Chain and Post-Harvest solutions. 

The Logistics Challenge: 35% Food Loss

The Dutch delegation confirmed that, despite vast investments in food security , the Gulf region continues to face persistently high food loss, reaching up to 35% in some segments. This inefficiency is due to the fragmentation of the cold chain , where temperature fluctuations are frequent , even for locally grown produce. The current storage and transport infrastructure demonstrates significant limitations for consistently handling perishable goods.

Furthermore, long wait times during cross-docking and delays in airfreight clearance worsen the problem.

The Technology Gap and the Human Factor

The field analysis revealed an underutilization of globally proven post-harvest technologies , such as vacuum cooling, modified atmosphere packaging, and real-time digital condition monitoring.

Moreover, a large part of the operational cold chain breaches are not equipment failures, but human deficiencies. The mission concluded that the lack of standardized protocols and insufficient staff training are critical factors , including inconsistent handling, poor offloading practices, and open dock doors.

These factors underline the urgency of Knowledge-to-Knowledge (K2K) exchange programs to improve the understanding of how to maintain high standards in temperature-sensitive supply chains.

The Dutch Roadmap: Future Strategies

Based on these conclusions, the Netherlands Agricultural Network (LAN) has defined a clear strategy. The most prominent immediate action is the organization of a specialized trade mission to the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2026. This event will seek to:

• Showcase scalable Dutch solutions in cold chain logistics, digital tracking, sustainable cooling, and post-harvest loss reduction.
• Establish public-private partnerships and explore B2B opportunities with Gulf stakeholders.
• Additionally, partnerships will be explored to facilitate research and development or K2K exchanges for the public sector and universities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) , and an inbound mission of key GCC stakeholders to the Netherlands is being considered to experience Dutch supply chain innovations firsthand.

The Message is Clear

Gulf countries are looking for reliable partners who can offer technical excellence and practical implementation to reform their food systems , and the Netherlands is well-positioned for this role with its proven expertise in agro-logistics and commitment to sustainability.

References

Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur. (2025, 2 de septiembre). GCC fact-finding mission confirms demand for Dutch agri-logistics and post-harvest solutions. Agroberichten Buitenland. https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl/actueel/nieuws/2025/09/02/gcc-fact-finding-mission-2025