NLF Netherlands has decided to merge with Carin Vets and Caring Farmers, both members of the Caring Movement in the Netherlands. This powerful organization brings together not only farmers and veterinarians, but also doctors, chefs and teachers – thus forming a strong coalition towards a Planetary and Animal Friendly Food System. Caring Farmers was initiated in 2019 – see this interview 

For more info on the aim and objectives of the Caring Movement see this film  (in Dutch).  NLF Netherlands will support Caring Vets in setting up the farm animal sector, and also strengthen the collaboration with Caring Farmers in the country. Caring vets and Caring Farmers will be representing NLF Netherlands within our international NLF network.

Over the past 6 years NLF Netherlands (or Platform Natuurlijke Veehouderij) has promoted nature-based livestock keeping, by providing capacity building for veterinarians and farmers related to effective use of herbs, especially in the intensive dairy sector.  This included especially a focus on changing mono-culture grassland into herb-rich pastures. Moreover, the focus was on safe use of herbal products as available in the Dutch market. Besides farmers and veterinarians trained wihtin a Natural Milking project funded by RVO/Ministry of Agriculture, this contributed to the growing movement which has resulted in over 10.000 hectares of herb-rich grassland for dairy cattle.

Moreover, 8 ‘Stable Books’ on safe use of herbal products in 8 livestock species were  published, elaborated by Maria Groot by Wageningen Food Safety Research, of Wageningen University.