FrieslandCampina launches regenerative farming pilot
FrieslandCampina leads a 3-year regenerative agriculture pilot with 30 Dutch farms, targeting sustainability and soil health.
Published on May 16, 2025
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Thirty dairy farms across the Netherlands are starting a three-year pilot project by multinational dairy company FrieslandCampina to foster regenerative agriculture practices. Supported financially by supermarket chain Lidl and guided by the National Growth Fund program ReGeNL, these farms are charting a course towards a system centred on soil restoration, biodiversity, and sustainable income models. The initiative seeks to create a publicly accessible standard that measures the impact of practices like diverse grasslands and rotational grazing. By 2031, the vision is to swing 1,000 farmers towards this sustainable future.
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that prioritises restoring natural ecosystems by improving soil health and biodiversity. This philosophy is centred around sustaining current land capabilities and enhancing them for future generations. Techniques such as cover cropping, rotational grazing, no-till farming, and composting are employed to sequester carbon, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and enhance soil fertility. Indigenous communities have used similar methods for centuries, recognising the interconnectedness of ecosystems and societal wellbeing. This approach addresses climate change by sequestering greenhouse gases and building resilience in agricultural lands, making soils more adept at withstanding floods and droughts.
Setting measurable standards
One key objective of the FrieslandCampina pilot project is to establish quantifiable standards for regenerative agriculture that can be applied widely. The project aims to track the impact of regenerative practices meticulously through data collection and analysis. This involves developing tailored farm plans in the first year and closely monitoring ecological and economic impacts in subsequent years. The ambition is not just to maintain environmental integrity but also to ensure that agricultural practices remain economically viable. By proving the effectiveness of these methods, FrieslandCampina hopes to inspire broader adoption across the agricultural sector.
The FrieslandCampina project underscores the significance of partnerships in advancing regenerative agriculture. Cooperation along the supply chain, from financiers like Lidl to knowledge partners like ReGeNL, ensures that farmers receive comprehensive support. Lidl's marketing director, Erik van den Hoogen, emphasizes the shared responsibility to create a sustainable food system that benefits farmers, consumers, and the environment alike. This collaboration not only provides financial support but also reinforces the credibility and reach of the project, helping to transform today’s environmental challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
