Fresh Studio develops a dairy farm monitoring system

HANOI – ‘I am impressed to see how FrieslandCampina has worked successfully with local farmers to increase the production of fresh milk in Vietnam.’

Locally produced fresh milk now makes up 19% of national milk production,’ international cooperation minister Ben Knapen said yesterday after visiting a model farm and a milk processing plant in southern Vietnam. Both are owned and managed by FrieslandCampina.

Dairy communities
FrieslandCampina aims not only to boost production, but to develop ‘dairy communities’, Mr Knapen was told. Through education and training, the company has already helped 3,000 small farmers meet quality and sustainability standards, and collaborate with arable farmers who produce animal feed. FrieslandCampina organises the collection, processing and distribution of milk throughout Vietnam: from grass to glass – no mean feat in such a large country.

Fresh milk
The average farmer in Vietnam has 10 cows. Farms are generally many hours drive from the nearest milk factory, which supplies some 120,000 shops. Fresh milk is not easy to come by in Vietnam. Three-fourths of all milk products are made from imported raw materials, like milk powder. Demand for fresh milk products far exceeds supply. So FrieslandCampina is working with Heus, Wageningen University and Fresh Studios to increase fresh milk production by setting up ‘dairy development zones’.

From aid to trade
Mr Knapen’s visit to FrieslandCampina concluded his visit to Vietnam. He was interested in how the shift from aid to trade is being made. The Netherlands will end its bilateral development relationship with Vietnam at the end of this year (which year?), in favor of an economic relationship built on the knowledge and experience gained from development co-operation, and the expertise of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.

At the end of his visit, Mr Knapen flew to Tokyo where he will attend the World Bank Group’s annual meeting.

Source: www.rijksoverheid.nlAlso interesting to read:

Official opening of new Fresh Studio R&D farm in Dalat

DALAT – During Fresh Studio’s own company team event, the new 1.5 hectare vegetable R&D farm was opened.

Situated centrally in an important smallholder vegetable cultivation area of Dalat, Fresh Studio launched one of the few privately owned vegetable R&D farms of Vietnam. The farm features a variety of techniques including levels of irrigation, and open field and protected cultivation methods to test the agronomic and financial performance of a wide range of vegetable varieties.

Fresh Studio’s professional team of agronomists regularly conduct tightly monitored experiments, collecting data for analysis. These experiments are undertaken for clients ranging from seed, fertilizer and plant protection companies. The R&D farm also plays an important role in METRO’s farmer extension program for which Fresh Studio is contracted.

MDF & Fresh Studio’s Value Chain Development course in Bali

BALI – 14 participants from all over the world participated in the Value Chain Development training course which was organized by MDF and Fresh Studio.

During the one week course, participants analyzed value chains on which they were working in their own countries. These VC’s ranged from Cashmere wool in Mongolia, to cucumbers in Cambodia. One day of the course was spent analyzing an existing supply chain for vegetables on Bali.

In 2009, the course will be organized again in Hanoi (1-5th of June) and in Bali (19-23rd of October). Participants can register through the MDF website: www.mdf.nl

Successful Moc Chau R&D farm field day organized

DALAT – On the 8th of October a very successful field day was organized by Fresh Studio at the vegetable R&D farm developed by the collaboration of Applied Plant Research of Wageningen UR and Fresh Studio.

Funded with a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture program for International Cooperation, a R&D farm for vegetables was established to test varieties of vegetable seeds from a range of national and international companies for their agronomic and financial viability. Trials were executed year round with a focus on off-season feasibility.

The aim of the R&D program was to determine whether the highlands of Moc Chau (1000-1500 meters) may become an important supply area to booming urban areas in North Vietnam.

During our field day, over 50 farmers, cooperatives, vegetable traders, seed companies, representatives of the Moc Chau Agriculture Department and the Dutch Embassy participated. The results of one year of hard work were presented through an interactive poster exhibition and guided farm walk.

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