One of the key focus areas was exploring how Dutch sectoral and #interbranch dairy organisations operate. The Netherlands is often cited as one of the most successful examples of interbranch cooperation in the EU dairy industry.

ZuivelNL is the central organization representing the Dutch dairy supply chain. It was founded in 2014 by the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO) and the Nederlandse Zuivel Organisatie – NZO (Dutch Dairy Association) to promote collaboration across the dairy sector. ZuivelNL focuses on sustainability, food safety, animal welfare, research, and market transparency, serving as a neutral contact point for government and industry stakeholders.

It was a pleasure to have Tjitske Bolt, International Affairs Process Manager at NZO, presented the structure, functions, and activities of ZuivelNL, its membership model, cooperation with government institutions, and the responsibilities delegated to it by the state.

Also, we visited FrieslandCampina, one of the largest EU cooperatives, which processes ~10 million tons of milk annually (to increase by +1 million tons after acquiring Belgian Milcobel next year). Koert Verkerk, Corporate Director, shared insights on cooperative governance, economics, pricing, and how Dutch farmers approve strategic investments abroad — including projects in Indonesia. A highly engaging Q&A followed, and we definitely need more time next round!

A compelling example of a successful transition from state ownership to a private national operator, Royal GD Animal Health now serves government institutions, industry associations, and private businesses. It is a leading organisation that uniquely combines animal health expertise, research & development, and advanced diagnostics into a comprehensive service model—conducting over 4 million laboratory analyses annually with a team of 500 employees, including 90 researchers and veterinarians.