Challenges for Agro-Food
New developments
The Dutch agricultural and Agro-Food industries are confronted with huge challenges. Conventional production methods are threatened by high costs and suffocating legislation. These problems are offset by huge opportunities thanks to the use of new technical capabilities. For example:
Biomass
The bio-based economy demands new non-food applications using sustainable raw materials. Biomass from agricultural by-products contains huge amounts of carbohydrates. These can be processed into organic chemicals, stock feed and bioenergy, for example. CCC provides the high-quality knowledge required to make this possible.Healthy foodstuffs and ingredients
Prebiotics and other non-digestible carbohydrates in our food have positive effects on our health. They help prevent cardiovascular diseases and overweight and improve the immune system. CCC develops innovative ingredients and foodstuffs on the basis of this natural concept. In the long term these products can contribute to improving public health.
Carbohydrates as the basis for a bio-based economy
The Netherlands has a lot of agricultural land and many high-quality processing industries. This is an excellent starting point for a leading role in the bio-based economy. Knowledge of carbohydrates is another important factor. This knowledge is crucial for continued development. No less than 70% of all living matter is made up of carbohydrates. They are used for countless products and production processes, such as foodstuffs and healthy ingredients, but also non-food products such as biofuels, plastics, paper, textiles, medicines and cosmetics.
CCC can play an important role in the transition to the bio-based economy using its innovative knowledge and its broad support base in the industry. Our industrial partners represent the agro-production chains, together employing some 24,000 people directly and 45,000 indirectly. Many of the suppliers of these industries are agricultural businesses located in the north of the Netherlands.