The new year has begun, and at Dutch Poultry Centre we look to the future with confidence and optimism. In 2026, we will continue to serve as the connecting hub for knowledge, innovation, and collaboration within the poultry sector.

On 16 December 2025, science and practice came together during the Business Meets Science Event at Omnia in Wageningen. The event, a collaboration between the Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC) and Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR), brought together poultry farmers, industry representatives, researchers, and educators with one shared goal: accelerating innovation through collaboration.

As the second day of the VIV MEA trade show drew to a close, a well-attended Dutch reception took place on Wednesday, 26 November at the Brick Rooftop Terrace of the Aloft Hotel Abu Dhabi. The gathering, organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch Poultry Centre, and VIV worldwide, brought together dozens of international partners in an informal yet representative setting.

During VIV MEA 2025 in Abu Dhabi, the Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC) once again showcased how Dutch innovation is driving progress in the global poultry sector. On Tuesday, 25 November 2025, professionals from all continents gathered in ADNEC – Capital Suite 15 for an inspiring seminar on Smart Farming, high-tech production systems, and the latest developments across the supply chain.

In the run-up to VIV MEA 2025, Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC) organized an exclusive working visit to Al Rawdah Poultry Farm on Monday, 24 November. Al Rawdah is one of the largest and most prominent poultry companies in the United Arab Emirates. DPC members and partners were given the unique opportunity to take an in-depth look at the farm and gain insights into the region’s market and technological innovations. The visit concluded with the DPC Network Dinner in Abu Dhabi.

In October 2025, a delegation of Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC) members traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to participate in AgroWorld Qazaqstan, a leading trade fair for agriculture and poultry farming. The mission was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Its main objective was to connect Dutch companies with Kazakh players in the poultry sector, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration.

We’re excited to welcome NOVUS, the intelligent nutrition company, to the DPC community!

NOVUS combines global scientific research with local insights to develop innovative, advanced technologies that help the animal agriculture industry achieve better results.

Prior to VIV MEA 2025, on 24 November 2025, the Dutch Poultry Centre warmly invites its members and partners to join an exclusive visit to Al Rawdah Poultry Farm, followed by the DPC Network Dinner.

VIV MEA 2025 will open its doors from 25 to 27 November 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC) is organizing several activities during this exhibition, and we would like to inform you about them.

On December 16, 2025, Dutch Poultry Centre, in collaboration with Wageningen University, will organize a meeting featuring pitches, innovations, and opportunities for collaboration. This afternoon event will take place at the Omnia building on the Wageningen Campus. Reception starts at 1:00 PM, and at 1:30 PM we will kick off with pitches on ongoing and new research topics.

From 29 to 31 October, a delegation of Dutch Poultry Centre will participate in the AgroWorld Qazaqstan 2025 exhibition, taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Together with the Embassy of The Netherlands in Astana, we are organizing the collective participation of our members in The Netherlands National Pavilion.

Dutch Poultry Centre is organising collective participation at the AgroWorld trade fair in Almaty from 29 to 31 October.  https://agroworld.kz/en/

AgroWorld Qazaqstan is an international trade fair for the agricultural sector held annually in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event is aimed for professionals from the agricultural industry and offers a platform for companies, manufacturers and distributors to present their products, technologies and services to a wide audience of agricultural experts, business partners and government officials.

The annual DPC barbecue was dedicated to the club's 20th anniversary. Several prominent figures from the past and present looked back on the past years and ventured a glimpse into the future. Despite the less positive signals from the Dutch market, there is optimism and a positive atmosphere.

The Dutch Poultry Training Programme (DPTP) is off to a flying start and is brimming with energy and exciting collaborations.

The first pilot took place at MOBA, where Teun van de Braak and Janne van Rooij gave new employees interactive onboarding training about the laying hen sector. Using practical examples, they took the participants on a journey from chicken to egg. The responses were unanimously enthusiastic.

Marcel has held various management roles at Rabobank, specifically focused on entrepreneurs. He is currently working on the national food transition and also serves as local director for Rabobank Gelderse Vallei. Marcel was born in a farmers family and developed an affinity for the food and agricultural sectors at a young age. Marcel lives with his family in the poultry village of Barneveld. .

The Schippers Group is expanding to New Zealand. The company is opening a branch in Christchurch on the South Island. The opening of the office follows several international expansions of the company. After Canada, the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia, an expansion to New Zealand is now the latest achievement.

Felleskjøpet and Vencomatic Group have announced a partnership agreement effective March 1, 2025. This strategic cooperation allows Felleskjøpet to strengthen its poultry product portfolio and become the exclusive importer of Vencomatic Group brands — Vencomatic, Prinzen, Agro Supply, and Van Gent — in Norway. In collaboration with Felleskjøpet, Vencomatic Group will maintain its presence in Norway, ensuring long-term support and service for its extensive installed base in the market.

Huvepharma, one of the largest animal health companies in the world, has partnered with HatchTech on an innovative long-term vaccine hatchery project.

Royal GD is pleased to welcome Jeroen Leus, founder of Demetris DierGezondheid in Duiven, as Sector Manager for Poultry. He is thus leaving Animal Health Group, to which Demetris belongs, and in his new position, will lead the Poultry Department at Royal GD. 

Colubris Cleantech and OxyMem Ltd., part of Dupont Water Solutions, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Wednesday 12 March during Aquatech Amsterdam. This agreement marks the start of a strategic collaboration for the application of OxyMem's innovative Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) technology in wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands and within the global meat processing industry.

In the poultry processing industry, Arie Tulp is a familiar face, not only for The Netherlands, but for the whole world. For many years, he has worked for Marel Poultry in the capacity of sales and marketing director. He can therefore effortlessly explain in a few minutes how the global poultry processing market works. ‘The global demand for poultry meat continues to grow while the required resources, including personnel, cannot support this growth everywhere. More intelligent automation is therefore eminent to ensure the required growth and continuity of poultry meat production ,’ argues Arie Tulp.

With biogas from dairy farmers in Laren/Lochem (NL), Reudink, a producer of organic animal feed and part of ForFarmers, is making all the energy consumption required for the production of organic animal feed at the Lochem location more sustainable.

Heering has appointed Garage Le Blevennec as the authorized service dealer in France. Based in Brittany, Le Blevennec will offer a wide range of services for the Heering chick carriers to the French market. Garage Le Blevennec is a family business since 1973 and has many years of experience with the Heering chick carriers.

Our conversation with Joost ter Heerdt starts almost naturally with a brief tour of HatchTech Group's new offices, on the A12 near Veenendaal. A striking building and unusual workplace, with lots of glass and high spaces. ‘That openness suits us, but it also suits the sector of today,’ Joost states.

Fancom welcomed Jan Rovers in his new role as Junior Area Sales Manager. Jan, 24 years old and living in Evertsoord, completed his studies in Business Administration & Agri-food Business at the HAS in Venlo last year and brings both knowledge and practical experience. 

Editorial Bouke Poelsma

Jan Wolleswinkel (Dutch Poultry Centre): “Working together to remain a leading country”

This year, we have something to celebrate – our 20 year anniversary! What started out small after what can only be described as a ‘miserable’ period has evolved to become an amazing journey of now two decades.

De Heus Voeders has acquired Kessels Holding BV and its underlying activities. Kessels Holding BV includes Van der Linden & Co BV, Van der Linden & Co Beheer BV, Van der Linden Diervoeders BV, Van der Linden Poultry Farms BV and Van der Linden Poultry Products BV.

After completing a careful selection procedure, the Aeres Supervisory Board (RvT) is pleased to announce that Rien Komen will become the new chairman of the Aeres Executive Board as of 1 July 2025.

During our New Year's meeting, the DPC members Aeres / Poultry Expertise Center and Hendrix Genetics took the initiative to set up the Dutch Poultry Training Program. We would like to invite you to the Kick-off meeting for this Training Program on February 5, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Poultry Expertise Center in Barneveld (Barnseweg 3, Barneveld).

The New Year's reception of the DPC and VIV was held in a pleasant atmosphere in a new location on January 8, 2025. We looked back on the old year and mainly discussed plans and new initiatives for the new year. After many years, the DPC and the VIV did not hold their joint New Year's reception in the Mereveld party center in Utrecht, but in the Oud London hotel-restaurant in Zeist. This switch certainly did not detract from the atmosphere and good care.

The Netherlands can still retain its position as the leading nation in the international poultry industry in the coming years, but it is under pressure. That was the conclusion during the DPC’s end-of-year reception where various experts spoke about this issue.

La Calera’s Operations

Located in Chincha, Peru, La Calera is a cornerstone in the country’s egg industry, boasting an impressive 5.8 million layer hens and an additional 2 million young birds. The company processes 32 million eggs each week, supplying 22% of Peru’s egg market. It operates as part of the broader Masias family group, which spans over 2,500 acres dedicated to diverse agricultural ventures including avocados, grapes, and citrus fruits. La Calera is a vertically integrated business, which includes egg production, grading, and processing through affiliated companies Mamai and Ovosure.