Pre-GreenTech Fact Finding Tour 2026
This horticultural fact-finding tour to the East coast of the United States brings together Dutch and American companies, public organizations, and knowledge partners to explore opportunities in one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems. Through a focused two‑day program in Pennsylvania and Lancaster, participants gain direct exposure to practical applications, policy directions, and collaborative pathways that can accelerate international growth and help create long‑term partnerships.
Goals of this mission
- Build on the momentum of the GreenTech Exhibition;
- Provide broad insights into the state of the horticultural sector and innovation ecosystem of the US East coast;
- Identify concrete market opportunities for Dutch innovation and technology;
- Strengthen public‑private collaboration between the US and the Netherlands;
- Build sustainable relationships with regional governments, research institutions, and industry leaders.
By the end of the mission, participants will have:
- New contacts in public and private sectors.
- A clearer view of market opportunities and regional dynamics.
- Foundations for collaborative projects, pilots, or positioning activities.
- Strengthened ties between the Dutch and US innovation ecosystems.
Tentative program
The tour includes a mix of visits and broader exploratory activities focused on innovation, research, business development and market orientation within the North American horticulture sector.
Confirmed programme elements include:
- Welcome drinks and a mission briefing with the delegation upon arrival in Philadelphia, focused on introductions, alignment and expectation setting for the tour.
- A visit to the region of Lancaster which will include a knowledge exchange session to local challenges and a visit which will give better insight into the local value chain.
- A visit to Van Hoekelen Greenhouses in Pennsylvania, including discussions on large-scale greenhouse floriculture, ornamental forcing systems, Dutch genetics and retail alignment.
- Meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Governor’s Office for Transformation & Opportunity regarding government policies, regulations, incentives and financial opportunities for international businesses.
- Participation in the GreenTech Welcome Reception, jointly hosted by Pennsylvania and the Netherlands, ahead of GreenTech North America.
The tour includes a broader series of company visits and networking moments across Lancaster and Pennsylvania, aimed at providing insights into the regional horticulture ecosystem, innovation opportunities, potential partnerships and developments in controlled environment agriculture and greenhouse technology.
Who can join?
- Companies working in innovation, technology, sustainability, digitalization, AI, related to Horticulture
- Public‑sector organizations and cluster networks;
- Knowledge institutions and research groups;
- Startups and scale‑ups exploring North American market entry.
Participation & selection process
Participation is limited to a maximum of 15 delegation members. In case of oversubscription, participants will be selected based on ensuring a balanced and representative delegation.
Registration deadline
06 July 2026
What will it cost?
€ 495 for the first participant.
€ 250 for each additional participant.
Participation fees do not include travel, accommodation, entree ticket for Greentech or VAT.
Organising partners
Rotterdam Partners, InnovationQuarter, LIOF, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
