VKON

What VKON does

VKON is a Dutch knowledge and innovation organization headquartered in Den Ham, Overijssel, that supports livestock farmers with practice-based research, advisory projects, and peer learning for sustainable animal husbandry. Founded in 2011 and operating with 1–10 employees, the organization functions as an independent facilitator rather than a software vendor, connecting a network of more than 50 farmers with veterinarians, researchers, educational institutions, industry bodies, and government co-financiers. Its primary customer segment is dairy farmers in the Netherlands (with a regional concentration in Overijssel and Twente), and it has expanded secondarily into the pig sector and agricultural education (MBO/HBO partnerships with Zone.college and Aeres Hogeschool).

The core product portfolio consists of multi-year publicly co-financed projects rather than commercial software or hardware. Flagship programs include Boeren Natuurlijk (2026–2028, nature-positive farming), Levensduur loont (2025–2028, dairy cow longevity), and Praktijknetwerk Duurzaam Melkvee (2026–2029, sustainable dairy network), all co-funded by the EU Common Agricultural Policy and Provincie Overijssel, with additional support from ZuivelNL and the Varkensfonds. Knowledge is delivered through closed study groups (max 15 farmers) at demonstration farms, workshops, symposia (notably the annual KOErs event), and monthly online cafés. VKON's first proprietary digital product, the CirCOWlair mobile app (launched 2025), provides dairy farmers data-driven insight across soil, crop, cow, manure, and milk balance using 21 visual cow-health indicators.

VKON's business model is project-based grant funding and professional services rather than product sales. All farmer-facing events and study groups are free of charge, with farmer economics supported indirectly through subsidies (e.g., CEO zoekt Boer course subsidized at €500 versus a €2,500 market rate via TwenteBoard, Groene Metropool Twente, and Provincie Overijssel). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: farmers are acquired via peer recommendations, project participation, and outreach through the regional network; retention is maintained through newsletter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and recurring workshops. The organization's strategic positioning rests on its practice-first methodology, multi-stakeholder independence, and trusted-advisor role with Dutch agricultural policy programs addressing nitrogen, climate, water quality, and animal welfare transitions.

Name

VKON

Legal name

VKON

Website

https://vkon.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VKON is a Dutch knowledge and innovation organization based in Den Ham that supports livestock farmers with practice-based research, advisory projects, and peer-learning networks for sustainable animal husbandry, primarily serving dairy and pig farmers in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Services

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG / Carbon & Conservation Program Advisory (AFACAJAF), Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable livestock farming
• Dairy knowledge networks
• Practical agricultural research
• Farmer advisory services
• Animal health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Ham

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Funding (EU, Provincial, Chain Partners): VKON operates as a knowledge and innovation organization funded through project grants and co-financing arrangements. Projects such as Levensduur loont and Boeren Natuurlijk are co-funded by the European Union and Provincie Overijssel. Additional funding comes from industry bodies such as ZuivelNL and supply chain partners. Revenue is not derived from product sales but from coordinated project delivery, knowledge sharing, and facilitation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VKON operates as a Dutch agricultural knowledge and innovation organization that supports livestock farmers with practice-based research projects, advisory services, study groups, and event-based knowledge transfer (workshops, symposia, online cafés). It connects a network of 50+ farmers and agro-food partners across projects such as Boeren Natuurlijk, Levensduur loont, and Praktijknetwerk duurzaam melkvee, supplemented by the proprietary CirCOWlair farm management application. Services are offered free to farmers and funded through EU, provincial, and supply chain co-financing.

Product overview

VKON is an agricultural knowledge and innovation organization offering a portfolio of projects, services, and events focused on sustainable and future-proof livestock farming. The core offering consists of collaborative projects including Boeren Natuurlijk (nature-positive farming), Levensduur loont (cattle longevity), Praktijknetwerk duurzaam melkvee (sustainable dairy network), and the CirCOWlair app for farm data management. These are supported by knowledge services (advisory and inspiration), research services, and network services including study groups. VKON also organizes the annual KOErs symposium and the Het Beste Idee Van Varkensland innovation prize. The organization connects farmers, government, research, education, and market participants to develop practical solutions for the agricultural sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boeren Natuurlijk
• Levensduur loont
• Praktijknetwerk duurzaam melkvee
• CirCOWlair App
• KOErs Symposium
• Het Beste Idee Van Varkensland
• VKON Knowledge Services (Kennis)
• VKON Practical Research Services (Onderzoek)
• VKON Network Services (Netwerk / Study Groups)

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 months extra cow longevity yields €1,600–€2,000 economic advantage per year per farm (based on analysis of farms with 100+ cows)

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• VK-Oost (Vruchtbare Kringloop Oost)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVK-Oost is a learning network of and for dairy farmers, arable farmers, contractors, and other land-using entrepreneurs in East Netherlands. VKON collaborates with VK-Oost on the Praktijknetwerk Duurzaam Melkvee project, sharing knowledge and farmer networks across complementary programs.
• Zone.collegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZone.college is a vocational agricultural school in Almelo. VKON collaborates with Zone.college to set up practical lessons for veterinary students, integrating VKON project learnings into formal agricultural education over a 3-year period.
• Marieke de Louw, De Louw Veterinair AdviesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarieke de Louw is a veterinarian specializing in phytotherapy, soil and pasture management, and gastrointestinal parasite control in cattle. She is a knowledge partner in the Boeren Natuurlijk project, contributing veterinary expertise on natural health support for livestock.
• Peter van Hoof, Organic Forest PolskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeter van Hoof is an independent researcher and advisor, owner of Organic Forest Polska and co-founder of vzw Agrosymbio. Since 2009, he has conducted innovative measurements on agricultural farms in the Netherlands and Flanders using a mobile laboratory. His specialization is solving farm-level nutrient cycle problems with a focus on soil, soil life, and manure quality.
• René Jochems, GroeibalansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRené Jochems is a soil biologist at Groeibalans, an independent advisory and research bureau for tree nurseries. He is a key knowledge partner across multiple VKON projects, providing expertise on soil biology, plant health, and nutrient management. Contributes to Boeren Natuurlijk, Van Grond tot Grazer Gezond, and the Bigoverleving webinar series.
• David Speksnijder, Universitaire Landbouwhuisdieren Praktijk (ULP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Speksnijder is a cattle veterinarian at the Universitaire Landbouwhuisdierenpraktijk in Harmelen, with a strong focus on disease prevention and optimal conditions for problem-free dairy cows. He is a knowledge partner in the Boeren Natuurlijk project.
• Topigs NorsvinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTopigs Norsvin is a pig genetics company co-organizing the Bigoverleving webinar series and the Het Beste Idee Van Varkensland innovation prize. They contribute genetics and sow mothering expertise to pig sector knowledge programs.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUR participates as a research partner in the Bigoverleving webinar series, contributing scientific expertise on piglet survival and pig health alongside practical partners and the pig industry.
• DierenbeschermingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Animal Protection Society (Dierenbescherming) co-sponsors the Bigoverleving webinar series, contributing animal welfare expertise and perspective to pig sector knowledge development.
• Aeres Hogeschool DrontenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAeres Hogeschool (University of Applied Sciences in Dronten) is a knowledge and education partner of VKON, collaborating on agricultural knowledge development and education integration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vruchtbare Kringloop Oost (VK-Oost): Learning network of dairy and arable farmers in East Netherlands focused on nutrient cycle optimization. Already a co-partner with VKON on Praktijknetwerk Duurzaam Melkvee, it operates an almost identical model of study groups and practical knowledge sharing for sustainable farming in the same geography.
• Connecting Agri & Food: Dutch platform connecting farmers, researchers, and supply chain partners for agricultural innovation and knowledge sharing. Comparable multi-stakeholder facilitation model focused on accelerating practical innovation in Dutch agriculture.
• DLV Advies: Established Dutch agricultural advisory organization serving livestock and arable farmers with practical business, sustainability, and technical consulting. Directly comparable professional advisory and knowledge services model for Dutch farmers.
• PPP-Agro Advies: Major Dutch agricultural advisory firm providing practical consulting to livestock and crop farmers across the Netherlands. Closely comparable professional services model delivering on-farm advisory and knowledge transfer to Dutch farmers.

Broad incumbents

• ZuivelNL: Dutch dairy industry organization co-financing VKON's Levensduur loont and Erfbetreders en Levensduur projects. Operates broadly across the entire Dutch dairy value chain with overlapping sustainability and farmer support mandates, but does not specialize in field-level farmer facilitation.
• LTO Nederland: Dutch Agricultural and Horticultural Organization representing farmer interests nationally. Operates in the same Dutch livestock sustainability space as VKON, including policy advocacy and farmer support, but with a much broader political and lobbying mandate.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR): Netherlands' premier agricultural research institution and an active VKON partner on the Bigoverleving webinar series. Overlaps with VKON on livestock research, knowledge transfer, and Dutch farmer engagement, but operates at much broader academic and scale scope.

Others

• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Europe's leading organic agriculture research institute with strong applied research and farmer knowledge transfer programs. Thematically aligned with VKON's sustainability and nature-positive farming mission, but focused on organic certification research rather than broader sustainable livestock facilitation.

Regional players

• Innovation for Agriculture: UK-based independent agricultural knowledge organization delivering farmer-led research, demonstration farms, and peer learning networks. Comparable practical research and knowledge transfer model focused on sustainable livestock farming, but serving UK rather than Dutch farmers.
• Vruchtbare Kringloop West: Companion learning network to VK-Oost, focused on dairy and arable farmers in West Netherlands. Operates the same nutrient cycle study group model as VK-Oost in a different Dutch region, making it a near-identical peer operating in non-overlapping geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VKON_DenHam
• Facebookfacebook.com/VKONBV/?modal=admin_todo_tour
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/VKON

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 VKON