Dairy Campus gets the official go-ahead

On Wednesday 26 January Friesland Provincial Executive, Leeuwarden Muncipal Executive, Wageningen UR Livestock Research and Van Hall Larenstein (part of Wageningen UR) issued a joint declaration in which they agreed to work together on Dairy Campus. As the place where theory and practice come together, Dairy Campus is sure to become a leading name in Dutch research on dairy farming. Here, researchers, students, academic staff and farmers can collaborate with national and international stakeholders in the development of innovative, future-proof solutions for a sustainable dairy sector fit for the 21st century.

Dairy farming worldwide is facing daunting challenges. On the one hand, the dairy sector is crucially important economically while, on the other, the demands of society with regard to animal care and welfare are becoming ever more stringent. Partnership and the development and dissemination of knowledge via research, education and training are all essential if the dairy sector is to meet these challenges.

Wageningen UR Livestock Research is focusing on concentration and renewal in pursuit of its ambition to establish a national research centre for dairy farming with international relevance and appeal. Friesland Provincial Executive and Leeuwarden Muncipal Executive (the regional authority) want to contribute to the achievement of this ambition. Stronger educational and research objectives in dairy farming and the processing of dairy products at Wageningen UR Livestock Research fits in with the regional aims to collect and develop knowledge. It is with this vision in mind that Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Van Hall Larenstein, Friesland Provincial Executive and Leeuwarden Muncipal Executive have combined their strengths in Dairy Campus.

Dairy Campus will be situated on the current site of the Nij Bosma Zathe research farm in Goutum (Municiplaity of Leeuwarden). There will also be a building with offices, meeting rooms and training facilities as well as business space to rent. Eventually, Dairy Campus will have seventy members of staff made up of researchers, trainers, carers, teachers etc. We also expect to welcome many national and international visitors on a daily basis for guided tours, excursions, practical training and educational courses.

For more information visit our website, where you can also watch an informative film on the goals and ambitions of Dairy Campus. For specific questions please contact Hans Bothe, communication manager of the Animal Sciences Group at Wageningen UR (+31 (0)317-487148) or call the press line of Friesland Provincial Executive on +31 (0)58-2925735.