This month, we have seen focus sharpening across the food systems landscape. Not only are key themes gaining visibility, but stronger coordination is advancing transformation. At NFP, we see that spirit reflected in our network. Read on for a snapshot of that energy in motion, and the practical steps that are helping to strengthen pathways toward more sustainable food systems.

— Communications Team @NFP

Updates and Announcements

Join our E-Course Food Systems Finance: a self-paced, free-of-charge e-course, tailored for public, private, and blended finance actors. Starting 11 May 2026, explore how financial flows can shape more sustainable food systems, from impact measurement to blended finance models. This is your chance to connect with peers worldwide and become a frontrunner in this emerging field. The e-course is provided to you by NFP and Wageningen University.

Applications close Sunday, 26 April; apply for your spot now!

The four projects that were awarded the NFP True Pricing Seed Fund are generating early insights into the hidden social and environmental costs of food: from cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire to coffee in Latin America. These findings are helping to show how true pricing can inform policy and practice across food value chains with impact in LMICs. Each project takes its own approach, but a shared pattern is already beginning to emerge.

Joining forces to connect Dutch salinity expertise internationally
Netherlands Food Partnership and Netherlands Water Partnership have joined forces with Salta by taking on a coordinating role of Salta’s ‘Tafel Internationaal’. Salta aims to address the challenges of salinisation and freshwater supply along the Dutch coast. It focuses on the Dutch context and brings together partners from the private and public sectors working on salinisation projects across the Netherlands. Through a ‘Tafel Internationaal’, Dutch partners can be supported in their international ambitions.

Momentum is building in the Biodiversity and Food Systems community. Each quarter, the community comes together to plan, strategise, and share responsibility for the ideas, messages, and actions that sustain the community. During the most recent call, partners shared updates and discussed priorities and opportunities for COP17, launched the new Conversation Starter Toolkit, and heard updates on two key initiatives. Read on to see what’s happening in the community, and how you can join the conversation.

Can healthy diets for all be achieved by 2050 while staying within planetary boundaries? That question shaped a dialogue co-hosted by NWGN and NFP, in which Dr. Fabrice DeClerck presented the new EAT-Lancet Commission report to around 50 Dutch experts from research, civil society, government and business. Participants then discussed what it will take to put its recommendations into practice. Read the full recap to explore the opportunities, questions and recommendations that emerged from the dialogue.

Soil salinisation is one of Senegal's most serious land-degredation challenges, threatening food security, water resources, and rural livelihoods. That urgency is why Senegal was chosen as one of the four priority countries by the Saline Water & Food Systems Partnership. To better understand the situation, AfricaRice was commissioned to lead a scoping study that looks at where this is happening, what is driving it, what support already exists, where the gaps are, and where joint action could make the biggest difference. The study provides the foundation for the multi-annual programme.

Opportunities

NFP is looking for a senior partnership builder to initiate and lead a new multi-stakeholder partnership in sustainable dairy, initially focusing on East Africa. This is a full-time role based in Utrecht, with regular travel to East Africa.

You'll be responsible for building the DairyNL partnership from the ground up — bringing together partners across business, government, knowledge institutions, and civil society, and guiding the partnership from concept to implementation.

If you have at least 7 years of experience in agribusiness or food systems, a strong network in dairy or agri-food, and a track record in multi-stakeholder partnership building, we'd love to hear from you.

The Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) is searching for an experienced Food Systems Finance Specialist to support the professionalisation of the Community of Practice FS Finance International, from April to December 2026. We seek candidates with 5+ years of proven experience in food systems finance or sustainable finance from a public, private and/or blended angle, and with excellent partnership and communication skills. More detail in the ToR.
Eager to contribute to NFP’s journey to stimulate public and private finance actors to co-drive food system transformation? And does this opportunity fit your experience, and ambition? If yes to both, please express your interest by sending your CV and motivation before 15 April to lvanbenthum@nlfoodpartnership.com and bbodlaender@nlfoodpartnership.com

NFP is looking for five development partners in Africa to test our serious game, ‘Food for All’, in their programming on informality. Designed as a conversation starter, the game helps participants explore how informal and formal food system actors can work together towards food security and community stability. Food for All was co-developed by NFP and partners SNV, and Wageningen UR, together with Kucheza Gaming Studios and two Dutch experts in educational games. Curious to learn more, or interested in using the game in your work?

Events 

We’re excited to announce that NFP will be present at the Impact Trade Fair on April 9 and 10 at Jaarbeurs Utrecht.

 

Together with Larive International, we will host the International Impact Trade Pavilion, a dynamic space where global partnerships, sustainable businesses, and real impact come together. The pavilion features organisations working on financing, scaling, and implementing impactful solutions in emerging markets.

 

Curious to explore opportunities, exchange ideas, or connect with like-minded leaders? We warmly invite you to visit us at the pavilion and be part of the conversation.  For more information or to schedule a meeting, feel free to reach out to Suzan van Hees: svanhees@nlfoodpartnership.com.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!