Caring Farmers
Caring Farmers is a Dutch non-profit foundation that connects nature-inclusive farmers with citizens, scientists, and chain partners through the Caring Community platform, running advocacy and projects on animal welfare, biodiversity, and short supply chains in the Netherlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNetherlands, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Caring Farmers does
Caring Farmers (Stichting Caring Farmers) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Deventer, Netherlands, registered as an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling / Public Benefit Organization). The organization is dedicated to advancing nature-inclusive circular agriculture (natuurinclusieve kringlooplandbouw) by connecting farmers with citizens, scientists, NGOs, and chain partners through the Caring Community platform. Its core deliverables are not software products but coordinated campaigns and projects: Meer Bomen Nu has transplanted 1.6 million seedlings across three winters; Goed Gehouden promotes animal-worthy livestock farming; Kalf-bij-Koe keeps calves with cows; Netwerk Kleinschalige Pluimvee represents hundreds of small-scale poultry farmers; and the Levende Zadenbank conserves forgotten vegetable varieties in partnership with Stichting Zaadgoed and De Zaderij. The foundation also publishes opinion pieces in national outlets (AD, Boerderij) and submits position papers to the Dutch ministries of Infrastructure & Water Management and LVVN on water policy, animal welfare law, and agricultural transition.
The organization has approximately 7 employees, is governed by biodynamic farmers John Arink and David Luijendijk, and operates across the Netherlands with a community-led go-to-market model. There is no proprietary technology stack; the Caring Community platform functions as a directory (interactive maps for farmers, sales points, recreation) combined with editorial content, newsletters (up to twice monthly), social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter), and physical events such as Caring Dinners, Ekotown, Smaakmuseum lunches, and the Zaadteelt Zaadvaste Rassen seed course. Revenue is generated through membership fees from farmers, chain partners, NGOs, scientists, and consumers ('Caring Consumenten') and through charitable donations enabled by ANBI tax status; specific fee tiers and total revenue are not publicly disclosed. Strategic partnerships include the Dierenbescherming, Universiteit Utrecht, Schothorst Feed Research, Aeres (MBO, HBO, Poultry Expertise Center, Hogeschool Dronten), AVINED, Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren (GD), Barth-Misset Fonds (as a financial partner), Stichting Demeter, Federatie Agro-ecologische Boeren, Transitie coalitie Voedsel, Caring Movement, Groenboerenplan, and the VALORAGRO EU project.
Caring Farmers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caring Farmers
- Legal name
- Stichting Caring Farmers
- Website
- https://caringfarmers.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Caring Farmers is a Dutch non-profit foundation that connects nature-inclusive farmers with citizens, scientists, and chain partners through the Caring Community platform, running advocacy and projects on animal welfare, biodiversity, and short supply chains in the Netherlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caring Farmers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Agriculture Advocacy
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
Keywords
Where Caring Farmers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Netherlands
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Caring Farmers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and Community Contributions: Farmers, chain partners, NGOs, scientists, and consumers can join the Caring Community. Members contribute to the movement and pay membership fees or contributions.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Caring Farmers operates as an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling - Public Benefit Organization), soliciting donations from citizens and supporters to fund the transition to nature-inclusive circular agriculture.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Caring Farmers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caring Farmers is a Dutch non-profit foundation that functions as a movement and community platform connecting nature-inclusive farmers with citizens, scientists, NGOs, and chain partners to accelerate the transition to nature-inclusive circular agriculture. It delivers concrete projects on animal welfare (Goed Gehouden, Kalf-bij-Koe), biodiversity (Meer Bomen Nu, Levende Zadenbank), and small-scale poultry, alongside advocacy through public debate and policy position papers. Members include farmers, chain partners, NGOs, scientists, and Caring Consumers, who contribute through membership fees and donations.
Product overview
Caring Farmers is a foundation that functions as a movement and community platform rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the Caring Community Platform, which connects farmers practicing nature-inclusive circular agriculture with citizens, scientists, and partners through maps, networking, and participation mechanisms. Related offerings include the Levende Zadenbank (Living Seed Bank) for biodiversity conservation, educational services like the Zaadteelt course, and various projects focused on animal welfare (Goed Gehouden, Netwerk Kleinschalig Pluimvee), environmental initiatives (Meer Bomen Nu), and health-professional programs (Caring Dinners, Voeding en Gezonde Botten training).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Caring Movement: Movement focused on nature-inclusive circular agriculture connecting farmers, citizens, and partners.
- Groenboerenplan
Products and services
- Caring Community Platform Membership-based community platform connecting farmers practicing nature-inclusive circular agriculture with like-minded citizens (Caring Consumenten), scientists, NGOs, and chain partners. Features interactive maps of farmers, sales points, and recreation opportunities to enable direct farm-to-consumer connections and short supply chains.
- Cursus Zaadteelt Zaadvaste Rassen Paid educational course for farmers, gardeners, and enthusiasts on selection, propagation, preservation, and breeding of open-pollinated (zaadvaste) seed varieties. Participants sign up via a dedicated 2026 registration form.
- Meer Bomen Nu (More Trees Now) Tree-planting project that transplants chance (kansarme) seedlings from existing trees during winter dormancy to new locations, enabling circular propagation without losing viable young trees.
- Goed Gehouden Project promoting genuine animal-worthy (dierwaardige) livestock farming in which all animals can exercise their natural behavior.
- Netwerk Kleinschalig Pluimvee (Small-scale Poultry Network) Network founded in 2025 connecting hundreds of small-scale poultry farmers (kippenkarren / up to 250 chickens) in the Netherlands to share knowledge and represent their interests in public debate, advocating for tailored regulation and raising the threshold to 1,000 leghennen.
- Caring Dinners Session program bringing care professionals (Caring Doctors, Caring Vets, Caring Farmers) to (biological) farms to explore the connection between healthy soil and healthy people.
- Levende Zadenbank (Living Seed Bank) Seed conservation initiative collecting and preserving forgotten, rare, and new vegetable varieties to prevent extinction and promote biodiversity in Dutch agriculture, in partnership with Stichting Zaadgoed and De Zaderij.
- Online Training: Voeding en Gezonde Botten Online training by Rineke Dijkinga at the intersection of farming and medicine, teaching about healthy bones through proper nutrition and lifestyle.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.6 million seedlings transplanted over 3 winters through the 'Meer Bomen Nu' project, contributing to circular tree propagation.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Caring Farmers
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Caring Farmers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Caring Farmers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Netwerk Kleinschalige Pluimvee (Small-scale Poultry Network)coreCaring Farmers founded the Small-scale Poultry Network in 2025 to better connect, share knowledge, and represent small-scale poultry farmers in public debate. The network advocates for tailored regulation and professionalization of the sector.
- Caring MovementcoreCaring Farmers builds a broad movement together with the Caring Movement (caringmovement.nl), expanding collective reach and influence for nature-inclusive agriculture transition.
- GroenboerenplancoreThe Groenboerenplan (green farmer plan) is a collaborative partner in building the Caring Movement and driving the agricultural transition at a broader scale.
- Stichting ZaadgoedcoreStichting Zaadgoed (Zaadgoed Foundation) co-organizes the forgotten vegetables appeal (vergeten groenten oproep) and the Living Seed Bank, running variety trials (rassenproeven) of heritage and forgotten vegetable seeds. Caring Farmers participates in these seed preservation projects.
- De ZaderijcoreDe Zaderij (the seed company) collaborates on seed cultivation courses and variety trials, working to reintroduce forgotten vegetable varieties into Dutch shops and plates. Partner in the 'Zaadvaste Zaden' (seed-stable seeds) project.
- Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren (GD)coreThe Animal Health Service (GD) collaborated with AVINED and Caring Farmers on a 2025 field study mapping the health status of 29 small-scale poultry farms (up to 250 chickens) in the Netherlands.
- AVINEDcoreAVINED, the Dutch poultry sector organization, co-conducted the field research on small-scale poultry health status in collaboration with GD and Caring Farmers.
- Dierenbescherming (Animal Protection Netherlands)coreThe Dierenbescherming is a participant in the Color Sussex dual-purpose chicken research project, contributing to the goal of a more animal-friendly and economically viable form of poultry farming.
- Aeres (MBO, HBO, Poultry Expertise Center)coreAeres institutions (MBO, HBO, and Poultry Expertise Center) participate in the Color Sussex dual-purpose chicken research project alongside other partners including the Dierenbescherming, Universiteit Utrecht, and Schothorst Feed Research.
- Universiteit UtrechtcoreUtrecht University participates in the multi-party Color Sussex research project to investigate welfare and feed requirements of dual-purpose chickens for a more animal-friendly and economically viable poultry sector.
- Schothorst Feed Research (SFR)coreSchothorst Feed Research (SFR) participates in the Color Sussex dual-purpose chicken research project, contributing expertise on feed requirements for dual-purpose poultry.
- Aeres Hogeschool DrontencoreAeres Hogeschool Dronten (University of Applied Sciences) participates in the Color Sussex dual-purpose chicken welfare and feed research project.
- VALORAGRO EU ProjectcoreVALORAGRO is an EU project in which agricultural rest streams are upgraded through fermentation as animal feed. Caring Farmers' farmers participate as Living Labs, working with fermentation expert Ronald Scholten (Dr. Ferm) to ferment rest streams for poultry feed.
- Stichting DemeterminorStichting Demeter co-signed Caring Farmers' position paper on water policy submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, advocating for consistent policy and support for nature-inclusive farming.
- Federatie Agro-ecologische BoerenminorThe Federation of Agro-ecological Farmers (Federatie Agro-ecologische boeren) co-signed Caring Farmers' position paper on water policy, demonstrating alignment on shared advocacy goals.
- Transitie coalitie VoedselminorThe Transition Coalition Food (Transitie coalitie Voedsel) co-signed Caring Farmers' position paper on water policy submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Caring Farmers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IFOAM Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement, uniting farmers, scientists, and advocacy groups. Comparable to Caring Farmers in building a coalition around organic and regenerative principles with policy influence.
- Soil Association: UK-based charity that campaigns for organic farming and sustainable food systems through certification, advocacy, and farmer support. Directly comparable to Caring Farmers as a national non-profit driving nature-inclusive agriculture transition.
- Federatie Agro-ecologische Boeren: Dutch federation of agro-ecological farmers advocating for nature-inclusive practices. Direct peer and co-signatory of Caring Farmers' water policy position paper, sharing overlapping advocacy goals.
- BoerenNatuur: Dutch farmer collective implementing nature-inclusive agriculture through collective agri-environment schemes. Closest direct peer to Caring Farmers within the Netherlands, sharing the nature-inclusive farming agenda and farmer membership model.
- Transition Network: European movement supporting local community-led responses to sustainability challenges, with food systems as a core theme. Comparable to Caring Farmers in its community-building, movement-driven, and locally-rooted change model.
- Stichting Demeter: Dutch foundation for biodynamic farming, providing Demeter certification and advocacy. Direct peer and active partner of Caring Farmers, sharing the same nature-inclusive and animal-worthy farming philosophy.
- Natuur & Milieu: Dutch environmental NGO advocating for sustainability across energy, mobility, and food. Comparable to Caring Farmers as a Dutch non-profit engaging in policy advocacy, public debate, and coalition-building for sustainable agriculture.
- Slow Food: Global grassroots movement promoting good, clean, and fair food by connecting farmers, citizens, chefs, and scientists. Highly comparable to Caring Farmers in its bottom-up advocacy model and multi-stakeholder community structure.
Broad incumbents
- LTO Nederland: Large Dutch agricultural employers' organization representing a broad farmer base. Comparable to Caring Farmers in representing farmer interests in Dutch policy debates but operating at much greater scale and broader scope.
Regional players
- Landgenoten: Belgian non-profit connecting citizens with local sustainable farmers via CSA (community-supported agriculture) models. Regional peer offering a comparable community-based farmer-to-consumer platform in the Flemish market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Caring Farmers social profiles
Digital presenceCaring Farmers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caring Farmers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Caring Farmers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caring Farmers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Caring Farmers
What does Caring Farmers do?
Caring Farmers is a Dutch non-profit foundation that functions as a movement and community platform connecting nature-inclusive farmers with citizens, scientists, NGOs, and chain partners to accelerate the transition to nature-inclusive circular agriculture. It delivers concrete projects on animal welfare (Goed Gehouden, Kalf-bij-Koe), biodiversity (Meer Bomen Nu, Levende Zadenbank), and small-scale poultry, alongside advocacy through public debate and policy position papers. Members include farmers, chain partners, NGOs, scientists, and Caring Consumers, who contribute through membership fees and donations.
Is Caring Farmers a public or private company?
Caring Farmers is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Caring Farmers founded?
Caring Farmers was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Caring Farmers based?
Caring Farmers is headquartered in Netherlands, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Caring Farmers make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership and Community Contributions are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Caring Farmers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IFOAM Organics International, Soil Association, Federatie Agro-ecologische Boeren, BoerenNatuur, Transition Network, Stichting Demeter, Natuur & Milieu and Slow Food. LTO Nederland is listed as a broad incumbent. Landgenoten is listed as a regional player.
Does Caring Farmers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caring Farmers.
What industry is Caring Farmers in?
Caring Farmers's product category is Sustainable Agriculture Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of EDAOAOAO, Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices. Its NAICS code is 11521 and its SIC code is 700.