Miller Magazine Issue: 129 September 2020

63 INTERVIEW MILLER / September 2020 and the impacts of the coronavirus. Mr. Vermeulen, could you please give some infor- mation about The Royal Dutch Grain and Feed Trade Association (‘Het Comité’)? What is the mission and objectives of your Association? The Royal Dutch Grain and Feed Trade Association (‘Het Comité’) is a trade organization representing the interests of its approximately 120 members in the agri-business in The Netherlands. Its activities also include compiling and managing standard national and international trade con- tracts, advocacy for the Dutch grain, seed and feed trade to the fullest extent, operating an arbitration institute, organizing an annual course in grain trading and setting day values. Het Comité is committed maintaining the attractive- ness of the Netherlands as a location for the trade, sup- ply, and logistics of agricultural raw materials (grains, seeds and legumes) for food, animal feed and energy. Our mission and objectives are facilitating unrestricted trade, supply and logistics of agricultural raw materials for food, animal feed and energy and further strength- ening the position of the Netherlands as an attractive location for companies in the agricultural raw materials chain. Establishing connections with other partners in the chains of trade, logistics and supply, facilitating the con- nection between members and the transfer of knowledge and information to the members. We want to promote the level of knowledge of the trade, supply and lo- gistics of agricultural raw materials (grains, seeds and legumes) for food, animal feed and energy in the sector Can you tell us Neth- erlands’ position in the agribusiness? How do you define the Neth- erlands’ importance in agri-food trade and why? The Netherlands has been an important global player in agribusiness for many years. The Neth- erlands is second largest agricultural exporter; when it comes to (gross) exports we solely have to let the United States take precedence, and as for net exports (export minus import) Brazil and Argen- tina. Dutch agricultural exports consist of 73% goods of Dutch origin. The Netherlands provides a wide range of facilities for importing, shipping, storing, processing and exporting agri-food products in bulk. A significant part of the Agri bulk is directly transhipped to other countries. The re- maining grains and oilseeds supplied to Dutch ports are directly processed into products such as meal and oil for both human consumption and animal feed. These prod- ucts are used in the Netherlands and exported to other countries. From our ports approximately 50% of these processed products is transhipped to other countries. Around 7% of the grains, seeds and pulses used in the Netherlands is also grown in the Netherlands. Trade is in our DNA. We are a leading trading nation in food and feed. Our trade mentality contributes to good relations with trade parties worldwide. Many agri-food companies in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe benefit from our ability to import, export and tranship products at a cost-effective price. As a result, our trade is the indispensable link between supply and demand. Thanks to the location of the ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands is strategically located for world trade. We benefit from our convenient connection to international trading routes, our waterways and good in- frastructure for road and rail transport, connects us to oth- er European countries. As a result of these efficient product flows, import and export are central to our economy.