Dutch dairy industry whole industry chain management seminar held in Beijing to promote Sino-Dutch dairy industry cooperation

On September 22, the "From Ranch to Fork" Dutch Dairy Industry Chain Management Seminar was held in Beijing, hosted by the Dutch Dairy Association and the China Nutrition and Health Food Association, and supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China. The seminar brought together experts from the government, industry associations, nutrition and health care, food safety and other fields as well as representatives of dairy companies to conduct in-depth exchanges around the Dutch dairy industry's century-old full industry chain management experience. It focused on the key role and practice of the "from pasture to fork" full industry chain management model in ensuring the safety and quality of dairy products. On-site initiatives were also taken to promote cooperation in full industry chain management of the Chinese and Dutch dairy industries to benefit more Chinese consumers and families.

Launched a dairy industry chain cooperation initiative on site to jointly promote high-quality development of the dairy industry

Tsjeard Hoekstra, charge d'affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, said at the seminar: "Although the Netherlands is small in size, it has created the miracle of being the world's second largest exporter of agricultural products and food. The dairy industry is a pillar industry of this miracle. I look forward to taking this seminar as an opportunity to promote the expansion of Dutch-Chinese dairy cooperation to a deeper level and a wider field."

Chargé d'Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, Mr. Hozide made an opening speech

He also mentioned: "The Dutch dairy industry is world-renowned for its efficient, sustainable and strict quality standards. This reputation is not only due to the unique natural conditions, but more importantly, a complete 'from pasture to fork' governance system. China is the Netherlands' most important dairy export market outside the EU. Especially from 2012 to 2025, the Netherlands has been one of the top three suppliers of infant formula to China for 14 consecutive years. This is a responsibility that we cherish very much."

The Netherlands is China's second largest source of dairy imports, with imports reaching US$2.03 billion in 2025; it is also the largest source of China's infant formula imports, accounting for 36%. The eye-catching market data confirms the trust and confidence of consumers in the quality of the Dutch dairy industry under the entire industry chain management model.

The three pillars of the Dutch dairy industry’s global reputation

The Dutch dairy industry has long maintained its international competitive advantage. There are three key pillars behind it: the dairy farmer cooperative model passed down from generation to generation, the "golden triangle" of close collaboration between the government, academic institutions and industry, and the "from pasture to fork" full industry chain management model.

The industrial organizational structure based on cooperatives is a distinctive feature of the Dutch dairy industry. About 90% of dairy farmers in the Netherlands deliver raw milk to cooperative enterprises. This integrated model of "family ranch + cooperative" allows dairy farmers to deeply participate in the entire industrial chain from ranch to terminal, and share the value-added benefits of the entire chain, thereby giving dairy farmers the inherent motivation to regard quality as their lifeline.

The "golden triangle" model of close collaboration between the government, academic research institutions, and industry is an important engine for promoting innovation and improving the competitiveness of the Dutch dairy industry. For decades, dairy farmers, cooperatives, processing companies, scientific research institutions and the government have worked closely together. This system enables the Dutch dairy industry to continuously improve production efficiency, product quality, safety and sustainability.

"From pasture to fork" whole industry chain management

The "from pasture to fork (G2G)" whole industry chain management model forms the core support for the global competitiveness of the Dutch dairy industry. It is also the focus of the dialogue in this seminar. Karel van Bommel, Agricultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, said: "In the Netherlands, food safety is not controlled as a single link, but through collaborative management, covering the entire process of milk production, animal health, milk collection, processing, testing, traceability, transportation, finished product and export inspection. Integrated management from farm to table, throughout the entire value chain, lays a solid foundation for food safety and product quality."

Karel, Agricultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China, introduced the development situation of the Dutch dairy industry

The Dutch Food and Consumer Products Administration is responsible for the overall supervision and management of this chain. In addition to government supervision, there are also industry standards, quality control systems, laboratory testing, and each company's own responsibilities. The combination of government supervision and industry responsibility ensures that food safety requirements are implemented throughout the entire chain.

The counselor specifically mentioned: "The Netherlands has rich experience in dairy production, food safety, quality assurance, innovative research and development, and sustainable development; while China has a vibrant and rapidly developing dairy market, with increasing demand for high-quality, safe, and nutritious dairy products. The complementary advantages of both parties have created huge potential for continued deepening of cooperation between the two parties. The Netherlands is the first country in the world to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on On-site Verification of Infant Formula Registration with the China State Administration for Market Regulation, which fully reflects the high trust of Chinese authorities in the Dutch dairy management system."

The Dutch Dairy Association, which represents 13 major dairy companies in the Netherlands and covers about 98% of the milk processing volume in the Netherlands, plays a key hub role in the management of the entire industry chain. Kenneth van Halewijn, market access manager of the Dutch Dairy Association, vividly explained the safety of the entire industry chain management at the seminar. He said: "The Dutch Dairy Association also carries out monitoring projects outside of government regulations. Taking member company Royal FrieslandCampina as an example, its raw milk must undergo more than 1,000 tests by a third-party independent laboratory coordinated by the association before and after transportation."

Kenneth van Halewijn, head of market access at the Dutch Dairy Association, shared his experience in the management of the entire Dutch dairy industry chain

Experts such as Li Liangqiu, executive vice president of the China Nutrition and Health Food Association, Ren Fazheng, dean of the Nutrition and Health Research Institute of China Agricultural University, Liu Meiju, vice chairman of the China Dairy Industry Association, Zhao Yunfeng, chairman of the Physical and Chemical Inspection Methods and Procedures Committee of the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee, Li Zailing, chief physician of pediatrics at Peking University Third Hospital, shared on-site the China food industry, the development status of the dairy industry and the management practices of the whole industry chain, the whole chain testing and risk control of the dairy industry, as well as the prospects and directions of Sino-Dutch dairy industry cooperation. Zhang Zhanhong, President of Royal FrieslandCampina Professional Nutrition China, attended as a representative of Dutch dairy companies and shared the practice and experience of FrieslandCampina’s full industry chain management.

This seminar established a high-quality dialogue platform for exchanges and cooperation across the entire dairy industry chain between China and the Netherlands. All parties participating in the meeting agreed that the entire dairy industry chain management model is an effective way to ensure the safety and quality of dairy products, and is also the cornerstone of winning long-term trust from consumers. The Dutch government and industry associations will continue to play a bridging role to promote the exchange and sharing of Dutch dairy industry management experience at the international level, and continue to provide safer, better and more nutritious dairy products to global consumers. (over)