Lincoln University representatives were honoured to welcome the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to campus yesterday.
Her Excellency Mira Woldberg visited with some of Lincoln’s most senior academics to discuss potential research collaborations.
She learned more about Lincoln’s work in sustainable food production and land management, with presentations from the Deans of Lincoln’s three faculties – Agribusiness and Commerce, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Environment, Society and Design.
The Netherlands has been working towards transforming to a circular agricultural system, as Acting Vice-Chancellor Bruce McKenzie saw first-hand when he visited Wageningen University recently.
Her Excellency also visited the Lincoln-owned Ashley Dene Research and Development Station, where Professor of Livestock Production, Pablo Gregorini, demonstrated a series of sustainable agricultural practices.
Leading up to the Ambassador’s visit, Lincoln University Visiting Professor Wim de Koning had been establishing links between Lincoln and two European institutions, the HAS University of Applied Sciences and Harper Adams University.
In his role as professional teaching fellow at Lincoln, and due to his visiting professorship, he is well placed to initiate joint research in the areas of business and sustainability.
Professor de Koning said the Ambassador was impressed by the advances Lincoln University had made in sustainable food production.
“The presentations on sustainable food production and land management were the basis for good discussions and the start of further collaborations.
“The visit to Ashley Dene Research and Development Station and the demonstration of sustainable agricultural practices was certainly another highlight, as it made it very clear that both New Zealand and the Netherlands have a joint role to play in the transition to a sustainable agri-food system,” he said.