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FrieslandCampina has initiated a three-year pilot project involving 30 dairy farms across the Netherlands, with financial backing from Lidl and support from the National Growth Fund Programme ReGeNL. This collaboration aims to establish a framework for regenerative agriculture focused on enhancing soil health, biodiversity and creating a sustainable income model for dairy farmers.

The primary goal of the pilot is to develop an open-access standard for regenerative agriculture, focusing on measurable impacts on both ecological and economic fronts. The project will explore various regenerative practices, including herb-rich grasslands and rotational grazing, to assess their contributions to soil restoration and sustainable food production.

Tuncay Özgüner, president of FrieslandCampina retail and Americas, highlighted the necessity of collaboration within the supply chain to facilitate the transition to regenerative practices. “An increasing number of dairy farmers want to make the transition to regenerative agriculture, but they can’t do it alone,” he said. “Farmers require access to knowledge, guidance and a viable income model.”

Supermarket giant Lidl is participating in this initiative, which seeks to establish a sustainable food system that addresses the needs of farmers, consumers and the environment. Erik van den Hoogen, CCO/director of purchasing and marketing at Lidl Netherlands, commented: “By collaborating in the supply chain on solutions such as regenerative agriculture, we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities”.

Wouter-Jan Schouten, programme director of ReGeNL, emphasised the potential of regenerative agriculture to provide long-term benefits for farmers and the environment. He noted that Lidl’s financial support, combined with FrieslandCampina’s expertise, enables dairy farmers to implement regenerative practices effectively. "This is a key step towards ReGeNL’s goal: transitioning 1,000 farmers to resilient agriculture by 2031,” he said.

The pilot project will unfold over three years, beginning with the development of tailored farm plans in the first year. In the subsequent two years, the implementation of these plans will be closely monitored, focusing on ecological outcomes such as soil health and biodiversity, and economic viability for farmers.