A year ago, Jan Vorstermans bid farewell to an auction site in the Netherlands. After working at Coop ZON Grubbenvorst, ZON Fresh Park, and Hines Fresh Park Venlo for over 22 years, it was time to slow down. However, his passion for the work could not be denied, and Jan has now been appointed Agro Food Chairman Agro at Supply Chain Valley. A position that fits him like a glove. "We think in terms of the entire food spectrum and supply chain," Jan begins.
At Supply Chain Valley, companies, knowledge institutions, and authorities in the (EU) region of North Limburg work closely together. They collaborate on projects in areas like sustainability, the labor market, energy transition, digitalization, innovation, infrastructure, and mobility. "The belief is that certain themes are better tackled together than alone. Addressing those collectively adds value for all regional companies, enhances knowledge, strengthens all stakeholders' positions, and betters the living environment."
Jan at an event at Lely Orbiter
Several major logistics players in the Venlo region established this platform and provided funding for this initiative. "The agro-food sector obviously had to be included. Not because I'm a local but because the region has fantastic agro-food companies. It's home to all types of primary producers (greenhouses, open field, dairy, and intensive livestock farms), and fruit and vegetable processors. There are also large trading houses and logistics service providers, some of which are internationally renowned. I'm honored to lead the charge on behalf of this sector," says Jan.
Nine Building Blocks
"Supply Chain Valley has nine building blocks, of which the agro-food sector is one. This building block unites all the sectors, from the primary and processing sectors to all other active chain players. This initiative's strength is that, because everyone faces similar challenges, we're active in various sectors (logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and agro-food) across the different building blocks."
"That's achieved by working on projects together and through training, workshops, webinars, meetings, and exchanges. The agro-food chain also organizes a quarterly meeting at a company (together with Yuverta, Crossroads, and Brightlands Venlo). Themes such as energy transition, circularity, digitalization, and robotization are discussed," Jan explains.
Local-for-local in the Euregio
"North Limburg occupies a favorable position on major national and international freight transport corridors. Limburg is one of the few Dutch regions connected via all modalities (road, water, rail, air, and pipeline). Some people feel it's unnecessary when it comes to food import and export because it is all about exports. They forget that we reach 40 million consumers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) within a 150-kilometer radius of this area. We primarily consider providing food local-for-local in the Euregio. Export is merely a statistic. But we must share that message and all the efforts going into getting a regional food system off the ground."
Vorstermans is enthusiastic about his new role. "Supply Chain Valley is an exemplary community builder. It allows for cross-overs with regional logistics, agro-food, and manufacturing sectors. Within agro-food it connects all players. We have our offices in the Innovation Hub at Greenport Venlo and on the Brightlands Campus Venlo. There, the quadruple helix of knowledge sharing and collaboration can fully come to fruition. Training, conferences, and conventions can take place, but it's also an inspiring base where the youth is challenged and where workplaces with that wow factor are realized," he concludes.
For more information:
Jan Vorstermans
Supply Chain Valley
Mob: 06-53234004
j.vorstermans@sypplychainvalley.com
www.supplychainvalley.com