HVA International B.V. - Est 1879

29/10/2025

Congratulations to Dr Mariangela Hungria, 2025 World Prize Winner

This year’s Nobel Prize ceremony is soon upon us, and while every laureate deserves our admiration, it remains curious that of the more than 600 Nobel Prizes awarded to date, only eight have recognized breakthroughs in agronomy. That is a glaring imbalance, considering that without efficient, safe, and sustainable food production, there can be no lasting peace or prosperity.

Upon receiving the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, the great agronomist Norman Borlaug cautioned: “You can’t have peace on empty stomachs.” Borlaug foresaw the need to treat agriculture as one of humanity’s grand challenges and that agricultural scientists were the unsung heroes of the world. He therefore used his Nobel Prize winnings to found the World Food Prize, honoring the scientists and innovators whose work sustains life itself.

This year’s World Food Prize laureate is Dr Mariangela Hungria, a microbiologist whose pioneering work in biological nitrogen fixation is transforming soil health in tropical agriculture. Her innovations have reduce farmers’ dependence on synthetic fertilizers and have already been applied to over 40 million hectares of farmland, saving up to US $40 billion annually and cutting 180 million tons of CO₂e emissions every year.

At HVA, we stand with every agronomist and farmer striving to make soils richer, productivity stronger, and food systems more resilient. Given our focus on tropical agriculture, we are especially grateful for Dr Hungria’s achievement as it helps us push the frontier of sustainable, high-impact agriculture in the tropics. We also remain deeply grateful for Dr. Norman Borlaug’s generous spirit, for multiplying not only the world’s wheat yields, but also the impact of his Nobel Prize, inspiring generations to nourish both people and planet.

14/05/2025

Feeding the World Sustainably: Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions

As the summit brings global food security back into focus, the urgency of building resilient, climate-smart agricultural systems is clearer than ever, especially in regions already strained by extreme weather and rising input costs.

At HVA International, we’re fortunate to design solutions that are both technically sound and socially and economically viable. Through our work in a.o. regenerative agriculture projects in Africa and Asia we are seeing firsthand how innovation in feed systems, circular resource use, and animal health can transform local economies.

Now more than ever, closer collaboration is needed across public and private sectors. Tools like precision nutrition, AI-powered monitoring, and community-led models are not just buzzwords: they are part of the toolbox we need to scale up.

If you are working where agriculture meets climate and innovation, let’s exchange ideas. We all have a stake in making sustainable food systems a reality!

22/04/2025

This Earth Day, HVA International stands with over 1 billion people worldwide in celebrating our shared responsibility to protect the planet.

The 2025 theme, “Our Planet, Our Power,” highlights the critical link between environmental stewardship and energy transformation. In agriculture, that means replacing diesel pumps with solar irrigation, integrating biogas systems into farm operations, and designing processing facilities that run on renewables.

At HVA, we strive to deliver large-scale agricultural projects that not only harness clean energy and reduce emissions but also lower costs, making them more financially sustainable as well.

20/04/2025

30/03/2025

Eid Mubarak from all of us at HVA International!

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, we extend our heartfelt wishes to our Muslim clients, colleagues, and friends around the world. May this Eid bring joy, renewed hope, and continued blessings to you and your loved ones.

22/03/2025

World Water Day 2025: Too Much or Too Little?

Water is the lifeblood of agriculture, yet in today's world, farmers worldwide face a growing paradox—either too much water or too little.

From the flood-ravaged plains of Thessaly and the Indian subcontinent to the drought-stricken fields of the Mediterranean Basin and Gran Chaco Plain, climate change is redrawing the map of global farming. Medicanes, super-hurricanes, flash floods, erratic rainy seasons, and prolonged droughts are no longer rare anomalies—they are the new normal.

Countries like the Netherlands and Austria have demonstrated that proactive investment in flood defenses and water management—such as check dams and dykes—pays off exponentially. The cost of prevention is a fraction of disaster recovery. Meanwhile, innovations like drip irrigation, precision farming, desalination and mega-greenhouses are helping water-scarce regions sustain food security and independence.

Water basin management and hydropolitics are emerging as the defining challenge of the 21st century. The soner nations act to ensure water security and water safety, the better.

Just as the Agricultural Revolution of the 18th Century transformed farming for efficiency and yield, we now stand at the brink of another revolution—one that must redefine how we manage and distribute water. If countries invest in resilient water systems today, we can safeguard global food production for generations to come.

On this World Water Day, let's remember: Major efforts today will yield vast returns tomorrow!

08/03/2025

This International Women's Day, we celebrate the visionary women who have transformed agriculture through science, innovation, and sustainability. Their groundbreaking work has not only improved food security but also paved the way for a more resilient and sustainable future. Here are just ten of the dozens of trailblazing women in agriculture:
- Barbara McClintock discovered “jumping genes” (transposable elements) in maize, a breakthrough that revolutionized plant genetics, earning her the Nobel Prize in 1983.
- Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist, developed flood-tolerant rice varieties, helping millions of farmers thrive in climate-challenged regions.
- Lady Eve Balfour founded the UK Soil Association, pioneering organic farming and soil health research long before sustainability became a global priority.
- Louise Fresco, a Dutch leader in global food policy, has been a champion of sustainable agriculture, leading the world-renowned Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
- María Isabel Andrade, an agronomist, developed drought-resistant sweet potatoes, improving food security for millions across Africa.
- Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize winner and agroforestry advocate, founded the Green Belt Movement, empowering women and communities through reforestation and sustainable land use.
- Annie Moore conducted groundbreaking studies on soil fertility and crop rotation, shaping the foundation of modern agricultural science.
- Mary Engle Pennington revolutionized cold chain logistics, ensuring food safety through better refrigeration and storage systems—a critical advancement in modern food supply.
- Rachel Carson ignited an environmental movement with Silent Spring, leading to the ban of DDT and shaping agricultural policies worldwide.
- Cynthia Rosenzweig, an agricultural scientist, has been a leading voice on climate change and its impact on global food systems.

05/03/2025

We at HVA International extend our warmest wishes to all our Muslim clients, colleagues, and friends around the world. May this holy month bring you peace, reflection, and prosperity!

10/02/2025

Today marks World Pulses Day, a celebration of the humble yet mighty legumes that have sustained civilizations for centuries!
Before synthetic fertilizers revolutionized farming, pulses like peas, beans, lentils, and chickpeas played a critical role in agriculture worldwide. For millennia, farmers relied on crop rotation with legumes to naturally restore soil fertility seeing as pulses had the unique ability to fix nitrogen into the soil and improve its structure thanks to their unique roots being able to break up soils and prevent waterlogging.
Today, pulses are synonymous with India, where lentils and beans are a staple for its more than 500 million vegetarians. But their impact was once global—in fact, pea soup remains one of the most traditional meals in Scandinavia, a relic from when pulses were a dietary staple across Europe.
Today, more than 2 billion people still rely on pulses for daily nutrition and they are championed not only as a sustainable food source by the UN and FAO to combat hunger and climate change but also as a heart-healthy alternative in wealthier regions, where diets have become increasingly dependent on processed foods.
So let us celebrate the power of pulses, for their past, present, and future role in nourishing the world!

29/01/2025

🎉🐉 HVA International wishes you a Happy Chinese New Year! 🐉🎉

✨ 在这喜庆的时刻，HVA International 祝大家新年快乐，万事如意，龙年吉祥！✨

愿新的一年充满繁荣、成功与幸福！我们期待在未来继续携手合作，共创辉煌！

🔴 Happy Lunar New Year! May this Year of the Dragon bring prosperity, success, and happiness to all. We look forward to another year of collaboration and shared achievements!

15/01/2025

Celebrating World Cassava Day: The Root of Resilience

Today, we celebrate World Cassava Day, honoring one of the world’s most vital crops. Cultivated by over 300 million farmers globally, cassava is a cornerstone of food security, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.

Cassava is truly remarkable in its versatility and resilience, thriving in places where other crops fail. Thanks to being highly drought-resistant, it ensures a reliable food supply in challenging climates. A nutritional staple in over 100 countries, cassava is a key ingredient in African, Asian, and Latin American cuisines.

At HVA, we have been cultivating cassava on a large scale for over a century. With its high starch content, cassava is ideal for processing into a variety of starches, emulsifiers, and even pharmaceuticals and biofuels. Modern varieties are now able to yield over 40 tons per hectare, making cassava a true game-changer for both smallholder farmers and large-scale ventures facing the challenges of climate change.

Let us celebrate this resilient root and its critical role in feeding the world!

22/12/2024

Yet another climate change-induced extreme weather event has decimated large farming communities. Cyclone Chido has left a trail of devastation, first striking Mayotte, where it damaged vital vanilla, coffee, and sisal crops, and now wreaking havoc in northern Mozambique where over 60,000 homes have been destroyed, along with essential crops like maize, beans, sesame, and cassava. Thousands of farm animals have perished, deepening the crisis for already vulnerable communities.
Climate change played a critical role in Chido's intensification, with sea surface temperatures along its path rising by 1.1°C due to human activity. This has made Chido the most powerful storm in 90 years, a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action.
Let’s stand together to support those affected and work towards a more resilient future.