Global Dairy Farmers

What Global Dairy Farmers does

Global Dairy Farmers (GDF) is a Netherlands-based international membership network founded in 2006 that connects progressive dairy farmers with industry stakeholders, technology providers, and academic institutions across at least 12 countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Scotland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, India, Argentina, the UAE, and Ireland. Its core offering is a €350-per-year membership that grants access to international congresses (held annually in rotating host countries), webinars, roundtable discussions, farm visits, and an exclusive network capped at 100 active members and 500 silent members. The organization does not sell software, platforms, or hardware; rather, it functions as a curated knowledge-exchange forum where member farmers and partners discuss innovations such as sensor technology, AI copilots, robotic milking, DNA technology, activity tags for fertility monitoring, milk analysis, ventilation/climate control, and sustainability practices (e.g., Fonterra's 30% emissions reduction target by 2030 and 50% by 2050).

The business is operated by a lean team of 11, led by President Ad van Velde, Manager Lidy Brink, Treasurer Co Daatselaar, and Board Member Alfons Beldman. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues and multi-tier partner sponsorships (Gold: Lely, MSD Animal Health, VIV Worldwide, Nuffield International, Inbarn; Silver: HATO, De Heus; Knowledge: Wageningen Economic Research, Aeres University). Go-to-market is community-led: prospective members apply through the website, with regional ambassadors (e.g., Maria Eugenia del Puerto for LATAM) facilitating onboarding, and event partnerships with VIV Worldwide (VIV India Select, VIV MEA) extending reach. Recent congress locations include New Zealand (2024, hosted by Fonterra), USA/Chicago (2025), and a scheduled India Trip at VIV India Select (April 2026), demonstrating a deliberate cadence of geographic expansion paired with regional partner and ambassador activation.

Name

Global Dairy Farmers

Legal name

Global Dairy Farmers

Website

https://globaldairyfarmers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Dairy Farmers is a Netherlands-based membership network, founded in 2006, that connects up to 100 progressive dairy farmers with industry partners across 12+ countries through annual congresses, webinars, and a €350/year membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Industry Networking Services

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA)

Keywords

• Dairy farming network
• Agricultural knowledge exchange
• Dairy industry events
• Farmer community membership
• Dairy innovation congress

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of €350 providing access to congress, events, tradeshows, and webinars/roundtables. The organization serves as a networking platform connecting dairy farmers with industry partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Dairy Farmers (GDF) is an international membership-based network that connects progressive dairy farmers and dairy-related industry stakeholders worldwide. For an annual fee of €350, members gain access to international congresses, webinars, roundtable discussions, farm visits, and knowledge-exchange events covering dairy innovations, sustainability, digital farming, and global market trends.

Product overview

Global Dairy Farmers is not a product company — it is an international knowledge-sharing and networking organization for dairy farmers and industry stakeholders. Its offering consists of a membership program (annual fee of EUR 350) that grants access to congresses, events, webinars, roundtable discussions, and farm visits. No branded software product, platform, or module is offered for sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual GDF Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 18% reduction in N-leaching demonstrated through plantain use in New Zealand pastures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered gold partner, silver partner, minor and knowledge partner.

• Lelygold partnerTechnology or IntegrationLely is a Gold Partner of Global Dairy Farmers. The company specializes in robotics and automation for dairy farming, including the Lely Astronaut milking robots and automated feeding systems. Lely representatives participate in GDF congresses and contribute expertise on digital farming.
• MSD Animal Healthgold partnerTechnology or IntegrationMSD Animal Health is a Gold Partner offering animal health products and solutions to dairy farmers. The partnership includes participation in GDF events and webinars, such as the SenseHub Dairy Youngstock presentation on calf behavior monitoring technology.
• VIV Worldwidegold partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVIV Worldwide is a Gold Partner that organizes international animal protein tradeshows. GDF collaborates with VIV on events like VIV India Select and VIV MEA, delivering seminars and farm visits as part of the partnership.
• Nuffield Internationalgold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuffield International is a Gold Partner providing leadership development for agricultural professionals. GDF board member Alfons Beldman helped bring the Nuffield program to the Netherlands, with first scholars selected in 2011.
• Inbarngold partnerTechnology or IntegrationInbarn is a Gold Partner specializing in indoor farming solutions for dairy operations.
• Deheussilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationSilver Partner of Global Dairy Farmers.
• HATOsilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationHATO is a Silver Partner specializing in agricultural lighting solutions. Representative Pieter Hanssen provided a review of the GDF Congress in USA 2025.
• FonterraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFonterra, the world's largest dairy company, hosted the GDF Congress at their headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. CEO Miles Hurrell and senior leadership presented on sustainable dairy practices and emission reduction targets.
• Aeres University of Applied Sciences Drontenknowledge partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAeres University collaborated with GDF to organize a joint seminar at VIV MEA in the UAE. Students participated in the seminar alongside GDF President Ad van Velde.
• Wageningen Economic Researchknowledge partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWageningen Economic Research provides research expertise to GDF. Alfons Beldman works there and has been involved with GDF since 2006, contributing to congress presentations and organizational development.
• Lincoln University NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln University in Christchurch hosted a visit during the GDF Congress in New Zealand, with CEO Colin Glass presenting on DairyHolding's company.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rabobank: Global agribusiness bank with deep dairy industry relationships and farmer networking programs (e.g., F20, Global Farmers Master Class). Already a GDF partner and event sponsor with overlapping dairy farmer audiences.
• Alltech: Global animal nutrition and crop science company whose annual ONE Conference and farm-focused programming attract progressive dairy producers worldwide. Comparable audience but driven by a commercial agribusiness rather than a farmer network.
• International Dairy Federation (IDF): Global umbrella organization for the dairy sector covering science, standards and policy. Overlaps with GDF in convening global dairy stakeholders but operates at industry-body rather than farmer-network level.
• VIV Worldwide: Major international animal-protein tradeshow organizer hosting VIV India Select, VIV MEA and similar events. Comparable in event-driven dairy farmer engagement and already a GDF Gold Partner with joint seminars.
• Fonterra: World's largest dairy exporter and New Zealand dairy cooperative. Hosted GDF's NZ congress and shares GDF's farmer-engagement mission at much greater scale and with broader farmer-services offerings.

Direct peers

• European Dairy Farmers (EDF): European-focused membership network of progressive dairy farmers running study trips, seminars and farm visits. Direct analogue to GDF with similar community-led GTM and an exclusive farmer-member model.
• Nuffield International: Global agricultural leadership and scholarship network for farmers and agri-professionals. Comparable to GDF in target audience, selection-driven membership, and global travel-based programming; already a GDF Gold Partner.
• Young Farmers' Clubs (National Federation of YFC): Membership-driven network for young farmers providing training, events and international travel programs. Comparable in community-led GTM and exclusive membership model for progressive farmers, though broader than dairy.

Regional players

• AHDB Dairy (Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board): UK statutory levy-funded dairy knowledge and research organization. Comparable in farmer-targeted knowledge exchange, but UK-only with broader policy and marketing remit.
• Dairy Australia: Australian dairy industry service body supporting R&D, marketing and farmer extension. Comparable in farmer-knowledge-exchange role, but geographically restricted to Australia and member-funded by levy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-dairy-farmers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Dairy Farmers