Lidl, Friesland­Campina and ReGeNL launch soil restoration pilot

Thirty dairy farms are taking part in a three-year pilot aimed at putting regenerative agriculture into practice. FrieslandCampina is leading the project, Lidl is providing financial support, and ReGeNL contributes with content expertise. The goal: to develop an open-access standard that combines soil restoration, biodiversity, and a future-proof business model.

The participating dairy farmers will implement measures such as herb-rich grassland and grazing. These practices are expected to support healthier soils and increased biodiversity. At the same time, the impact on the farmer’s income model will be assessed. Lidl is the first supermarket chain to actively back this transition.

Collaboration across the chain

“More and more dairy farmers want to shift towards regenerative agriculture, but they can’t do it on their own,” says Tuncay Özgüner of FrieslandCampina. “Strong collaboration across the chain, with partners like Lidl, is essential.” Lidl sees regenerative agriculture as an opportunity to work towards a more sustainable food system that puts farmers, nature and customers first.

Tailored plans and measurable results

In the first year, each farm will develop a tailor-made plan. The following two years will focus on implementation and monitoring—both ecological and financial. “Regenerative agriculture is both feasible and full of potential,” says Wouter-Jan Schouten of ReGeNL. The programme aims to support one thousand farmers in making the shift to future-proof agriculture by 2031.

Lidl.nl