Greater links between food innovation companies in this country and with those in the Netherlands is being predicted by the head of a Dutch food innovation network.
Roger van Hoesel from Food Valley Netherlands was in this country to attend the Manawatu Agrifood Business Forum.
He was being hosted by FoodHQ, a cluster of New Zealand food innovation organisations.
Mr van Hoesel said because the Netherlands and New Zealand were similar, collaboration would work.
"And my personal goal would be that smaller companies here in NZ and smaller companies in the Netherlands could link up one way or another and of course geography is an issue here because we are so far apart and for them it is too costly and time consuming to step on a plane to meet each other.
"So I think also in a digital way it would be fantastic if we could connect these companies so not only the companies would work with neighbouring companies in Europe and the companies here work with Australia, given the fact that the countries are so a like."