Koert Verkerk Takes Presidency of European Dairy Association

Koert Verkerk, corporate director of public affairs at Royal FrieslandCampina, has been chosen to lead the European Dairy Association, the Brussels-based body representing dairy processors in European Union member states. The decision was taken at the association’s annual convention in Bratislava, Slovakia. He replaces Albert de Groot as president.

European dairy processors handle about 150m tonnes of raw milk each year. The industry is operating amid changes to environmental policy, trade disputes and fluctuating margins. In his address to executives and cooperative representatives, Mr Verkerk said that preserving the sector’s economic strength should remain a central issue in future discussions with policymakers in Brussels.

He linked food security to the financial condition of farms and dairy companies. Producers and manufacturers face additional obligations under the Common Agricultural Policy and related environmental rules, including higher administrative demands and capital requirements at processing sites. The association plans to increase its discussions with the European Commission during forthcoming legislative reviews, with a focus on raw-milk supply and processing capacity in major dairy regions.

The new presidency also places emphasis on the financing of the environmental transition. Decarbonisation projects, methane-reduction equipment and biodiversity measures require investment by farms and companies. Mr Verkerk said that family farms need reliable cash flow, while dairy businesses need sufficient liquidity to fund long-term projects. He also said that new technologies must work under commercial operating conditions and that sustainability measures should support agricultural resilience and productivity.

Trade policy is another stated priority. European dairy companies sell specialised cheeses, infant-nutrition products, butterfat and whey-protein ingredients to markets in Asia, North America and the Middle East. Mr Verkerk said that domestic production and international sales reinforce each other by allowing processors to earn overseas revenue and direct capital towards farms, factories and rural areas. He called for transparent, rules-based trade agreements as protectionist measures increase and export markets become more fragmented.

For 2027, the association expects to address changes in consumer demand and milk collection. Environmental restrictions in the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland are limiting national milk pools, while processors are placing greater emphasis on higher-value products rather than bulk milk powder. The association will engage with European institutions on nitrogen rules, packaging requirements and nutrition labelling. Its stated objective is to combine environmental requirements with economic viability and fair returns for producers at the farm gate.