Food & Agri

Sector knowledge

The Food & Agri sector faces many challenges, such as stricter sustainability requirements, nitrogen and nature regulations, food safety, chain transparency and increasing international competition, and must continuously adapt to the latest requirements and wishes of governments, society and consumers in areas such as sustainability, animal welfare, health, origin and price. Case law from national courts and the European Court of Justice is developing rapidly. At the same time, the sector is undergoing significant change in terms of technology and product development.

Our Food & Agri team monitors these developments and understands where opportunities lie within this dynamic sector. Our specialists offer practical and targeted solutions based on good personal contact and knowledge of the sector. They work together with specialists from other teams, for example in the areas of commercial contracts, employment law, environmental law and competition law, so that you receive comprehensive support.

Our approach

We advise both national and international players in the sector and in all links of the chain. We work in a personal and solution-oriented manner. We do this practically, quickly and in close consultation with our client. Our goal is to make legal processes run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

We advise producers, processors, traders, retailers and suppliers throughout the agri-food chain. We assist companies that are active in areas such as:

(glass) horticulture;
food production, processing and distribution;
manufacturers and processors of agricultural raw materials;
design and production of machinery and equipment for the food and agricultural sector;
and trade and logistics in agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Your specialist

Gerben Barendregt

Attorney at law

All specialists

Call: +31 172 530 250

You can contact us for the following

Commercial contracts in the chain (such as cultivation and purchase agreements, distribution and supplier contracts, and logistics contracts)
Dispute resolution concerning, for example, delivery obligations, quality, price adjustments, termination of long-term partnerships and other chain disputes in the food and agricultural sector.
Product liability and product safety for foodstuffs, animal feed, seeds, crop protection products and machinery, including recalls.

Mergers and acquisitions, for example of food and agribusinesses, including family businesses, cooperatives, and other chain parties.
Joint ventures and other forms of cooperation between producers, processors, traders and retailers.
ESG, including the design and implementation of sustainability and chain responsibility policies, due diligence and reporting obligations in agri-food chains.
Competition law, for example in relation to cooperation agreements, industry initiatives and sustainability agreements in the supply chain.

(Amicable) expropriation and pre-emptive rights in developments, for example concerning agricultural land, greenhouse horticulture areas and logistics hubs.
Land transactions for, among other things, (glass) horticulture, livestock farming, storage and production locations, and distribution centres.
Leasehold and other land use, including long-term leasehold and usage agreements for agricultural land.

Environmental law for agricultural businesses, processing sites, and distribution centres (including nitrogen, the environment, odour, noise, and animal welfare).
Subsidies and support schemes for, for example, agriculture, innovation, sustainability and energy transition.
Permits, such as for the construction, expansion and operation of agricultural businesses and food processing locations, and procedures involving supervisory authorities and administrative courts.

Reorganisation, for example of production, cultivation and processing locations.
Transfer of undertaking in the event of the sale or restructuring of, among other things, agricultural businesses, production sites or distribution centres.
Flexible labour and seasonal work, such as in the cultivation, harvesting, processing and distribution of agricultural products and foodstuffs.