How a tiny country became the second-biggest agricultural exporter in the world

"The Netherlands is the world's second-largest agricultural exporter by value despite being only about the size of Maryland. Inside large greenhouses, farmers grow millions of tons of tomatoes and peppers with the help of bees, robots, and custom LED lights. The country's research hub, Wageningen University and Research, has turned this innovation into a global model for farming. But now, the industry faces rising energy prices, labor shortages, and a nitrogen pollution crisis."

"Inside large greenhouses, farmers grow millions of tons of tomatoes and peppers with the help of bees, robots, and custom LED lights. The country's research hub, Wageningen University and Research, has turned this innovation into a global model for farming. But now, the industry faces rising energy prices, labor shortages, and a nitrogen pollution crisis. So how are the Dutch adapting, and can their model really feed the world?"

Despite its small geographic size, the Netherlands is the world's second-largest agricultural exporter by value. Farmers operate massive enclosed greenhouses that produce millions of tons of tomatoes and peppers annually. Production relies on integrated technologies including bees for pollination, robotic labor, and tailored LED lighting. Wageningen University and Research functions as a national research hub that has developed and disseminated these innovations as a global model. The sector now confronts mounting challenges: sharply rising energy costs, persistent labor shortages, and widespread nitrogen pollution linked to intensive farming. These pressures force adaptations and raise questions about scalability and the model's ability to feed global populations.

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