A Floating Dairy Farm Operates Without Pasture or Land

A floating dairy farm in the Netherlands has built its operating model around materials sourced from the surrounding city rather than conventional farmland. Its cattle feed includes brewery residues from Rotterdam, mill bran from Schiedam, grass removed from sports fields, potato skins from a local processor, and surplus fruit, vegetables and bread supplied by company kitchens and restaurants.

The farm’s operators describe this as an application of circular agriculture to dairy production. These materials are returned to the production chain as feed inputs instead of being discarded, while the farm keeps its processing activities on site. Milk is turned into yoghurt, butter and cheese, with part of the facility below the waterline used to mature the cheese.

Manure is removed by an automated system that moves through the cattle shed and separates the waste. According to those responsible for the farm, the process cuts emissions associated with manure handling by about 60%. The resulting solid material is reused as fertiliser and as a growing medium for potted plants.

Sales are concentrated in Rotterdam, keeping the distance between production and consumers short. The farm collects and treats rainwater for internal use. It also receives part of its electricity from solar panels mounted on a nearby floating structure.

The site has more recently hosted vertical-farming activities, including the cultivation of microgreens and herbs. In 2025, the project announced plans to expand that production, with the stated aim of increasing the supply of fresh products to local restaurants.

The model remains experimental and has acknowledged limitations in scale and cost. Its operators do not present it as a replacement for conventional livestock farming. The project instead brings together automation, the reuse of waste, renewable energy and local processing within a single urban dairy operation.