The Netherlands aims for a sustainable, climate-neutral, and future-proof food system. If we want to continue feeding everyone around the world sustainably, we need to make the switch to plant-based food and adopt a healthier approach to how we manage the land on which we grow it.
The story of Nina Waldhauer
She worked in logistics for years, but wanted to contribute to the major challenges of tomorrow. Now, as a senior business development manager at Invest-NL, she focuses on the transition to regenerative agriculture. With her background in business administration and experience in logistics, innovation, and agri-food, Nina works at the grassroots level, namely the soil.
If the soil is not in good condition, you can do whatever you want further down the chain, but it will not be better than the original product.
Aiming for regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture goes beyond mere sustainability. It's about restoring the soil, biodiversity, and the farmer's business model. Within Invest-NL, Nina explores with colleagues and partners how this can be made financeable.
What surprised her at Invest-NL is how decisive the financial aspect is. "For a long time, I worked little with finances. Here, I see how much financial insight is needed to truly get a transition like this off the ground. Together with the financial sector, we identify where the biggest bottlenecks are. And mainly, how we are going to solve them."
A system player
Nina's strength lies in bringing parties together. Her days are filled with conversations with farmers, financiers, or policymakers. "We are still building the bigger picture. What are the building blocks needed for this transition? What are the missing figures? What are the shared interests? Many important conversations are needed for that."
She also continues to learn substantively. "I want to better understand what a farm business really needs. Not only financially, but also in terms of security. What prevents someone from taking that step?"
Harvesting together
Nina’s work doesn’t end in the office. With her family, she is a member of a Community Supported Agriculture farm. There, they harvest vegetables from the land weekly themselves. "My five-year-old looks forward to harvest day every week. Then he enthusiastically exclaims: today we are going to harvest!"
She continues "You never see so many vegetables in the supermarket as you do from that harvest. It shows how limited our agricultural system has become. Less variety also means less resilience."
She sees it as her mission to bring about change there. To support new systems that focus on diversity, connection, and fairness.
Invest-NL as a place to build
After previous roles at Wageningen Research and TU Delft, Nina quickly felt at home at Invest-NL. "What I appreciate here is the combination of thinking along with the content and setting your own course. You are given the freedom to take initiative, as long as it aligns with our societal mission."
She is also attracted by the collaboration. "Everyone is convinced of the importance of sustainability and innovation. That creates energy, although we also need to be aware of our bubble."
Nina has learned that an open attitude can get you a long way. "Take a step back. Listen. Make space. Sometimes the solution isn't in doing more, but in doing less."