Learning from the Dutch: Innovation at Vredba Farm

Last month, just after the Highland Show, Rory jumped on a plane and headed off on a learning journey to the Netherlands, visiting the pioneering Vredba Farm, home to the Van Bakel family – a large-scale family owned and run dairy operation that’s setting the pace in sustainable, future-facing agriculture.

Vredba manages around 1,800 hectares and 4,000 dairy cows, milking three times daily using rotary parlours. Cows are fed fresh grass each day, alongside seven additional feed compositions tailored to support health and productivity. Animal health and welfare checks and procedures are also managed on a strictly timetabled basis every day.

In the near future, working in partnership with Wageningen University – one of the world’s leading agricultural research institutions – Vredba will be focused on reducing methane and ammonia emissions, managing nitrogen and phosphate levels, and maintaining animal comfort in increasingly warm conditions. Their ultimate goal? Full climate control on-farm and a strong contribution to Net Zero targets.

A major innovation, currently under construction, is their natural biogas network, which will transform farm waste into renewable energy. Producing around 2 million cubic metres of natural gas per year – equivalent to the consumption of 1,600 households – this system will power the farm, support local industry, and benefits the wider community.

Already in place is a waste water treatment system, based on reverse osmosis, which uses water extracted during the milk processing and feeds it back to the cows with supplementary mineral added.

What’s particularly impressive is how Vredba operates across the entire supply chain. From manufacturing some of their own farm equipment to producing and marketing their own milk, as well as selling skim milk concentrate and cream across mainland Europe, in particular Germany, they cleverly retain margin at every stage. It’s a smart, self-sustaining model that brings both resilience and profitability.

All this is achieved within the framework of some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the world – proof that high standards can drive innovation rather than hinder it.

Vredba’s mission is fourfold: ensure excellent animal welfare, lead on climate action, support global food production and safeguard the entire supply chain. Rory’s visit provided fresh ideas and valuable insights – showing that bold thinking, collaboration and integrated systems can help shape the future of sustainable dairy farming.