Greentech Amsterdam 2025 provides showcase for global food and drink sector to invest in Kent and Medway

Locate in Kent flew the flag for the county’s food and drink sector at this year’s GreenTech expo, the world’s leading event for horticulture technology and innovation.

Held annually in Amsterdam, this global gathering brings together the brightest minds in sustainable growing, agri-tech and future-ready foods systems as well as over 550 businesses from across Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle-East.

Locate in Kent, the inward investment promotion agency for Kent and Medway, attended at the invitation of the Department for International Trade and on behalf of the Growing Kent and Medway innovation network, supporting horticultural, and plant-based food and drink business, based in the region.

Kent businesses exhibiting at this year’s event – held from 9-11 June – included Dover-based EDT directION Limited, a leading UK manufacturer of electrochemistry products which allows growers to accurarely analyse water and soil samples. Its markets include Algeria, Canada and Brazil.

Lumatec Lighting, based in Ashford, was also there. It produces lighting for customers around the world supporting indoor, greenhouse and vertical farming applications for wholesale and large horticultural projects.

Karima Kamel, Business Development Manager, Locate in Kent said: “We were delighted to attend this year’s GreenTech event in Amsterdam to showcase all that Kent and Medway has to offer as the place to grow. There is incredible innovation happening across the region from the UK’s largest greenhouse complex at Thanet Earth to the state-of-the-art facilities at the Greentech Hub for Advanced Horticulture in East Malling.

“Kent and Medway contributes over £3.6bn to the UK food and drink industry with over 2,300 businesses already here. World class research facilities and capital projects such as the recent £5.4m by Peel Ports to upgrade its grain handling facilities, shows why this dynamic region is the place to invest.”

Simon Barnes, Director for Growing Kent & Medway, said: “The outbound UK Mission to GreenTech, Amsterdam, not only provides an opportunity to see the cutting-edge innovation in horticulture, keeping us up-to-date with European advances.

“It provides an essential opportunity to build on our international collaborations, develop networks between the thriving academic and agritech ecosystem in our region with global partners, and identify innovation opportunities across the UK’s food value chain.”