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Developments in the delta
information technology, there are almost never
problems.
Not only is the Netherlands self-sufficient in
terms of food supplies, it even exports high-
quality foods on a large scale. The results of
biophysical research at research centres in
Wageningen have pushed up yields per hectare
considerably. Research from TNO has made the
‘3D printing’ of food possible. New products are
being made from proteins, sugar and fat in
combination with water, colourants and aromas.
They are edible, but leading chefs and many
consumers prefer natural foods, which are
produced on high-tech urban farms: the high-
quality water for these crops comes largely from
local stores of rainwater. In addition to food from
the land, salt crops and algae are important
sources of basic foodstuffs.
Working with nature
The natural river and coastal processes that
form the delta are major elements in water and
soil management in the Netherlands. We make
efficient use of the services supplied by nature
for flood protection, waste-water treatment and
drinking water supplies. Flood protection has
been designed entirely against a backdrop of
rapid sea-level rise and higher river discharges.
On the coastline, sand is transported naturally.
In the north, forelands are being created that
protect the existing dikes. The dikes are
becoming increasingly hybrid in nature: river
dikes are wide, built-up structures. The low-lying
area behind the dikes has been structured so
that it can cope with floods without suffering too
much damage or disruption. Vulnerable buildings
are located on mounds. The green heart of
Holland has been transformed into a blue heart
with large areas of open water, and extensive
wetlands have been created in the Markermeer
and IJsselmeer lakes. In this way, land sub
sidence has finally been brought to a virtual
halt after several centuries. A fine-meshed
network of sensors provides close monitoring of
the condition of the water and movements in the
soil. The resulting data is used to allocate water
during periods of excess or shortages.
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Deltares Strategic Plan