Dairy farmer Wouter Slob from Giessenburg, South Holland, is the winner of the 2025 Dutch Dairy Challenge. With his idea to use vertical farming for grass cultivation, he managed to convince the jury. According to jury member Marije Klever, chair of BoerenNatuur, the concept is an example of both 'landsharing and landsparing.'
By growing grass in a vertical farm, land is no longer needed for maximum grass production, Slob explains. In his concept, nut trees can be planted on the land, providing grazing space for cows among the trees. This creates more room for nature, and the cows can spend more time outside, even during hot, sunny days, as they can seek shelter in the shade of the trees. The jury found all the ideas to be strong, but Slob's concept stood out.
According to Klever, Slob's concept is 'an integrated idea that touches on various challenges we face in dairy farming.' She continued, 'We are dealing with high land prices and significant pressure on land use, which is causing concern. This idea provides an answer to that. In seeking solutions, Slob brings a new piece of the puzzle to the table. That surprised me. You could probably come up with a hundred more applications for it.'
From the beginning, there were critical questions about the affordability of his concept. This motivated Slob to calculate the payback period and make it economically viable. His comprehensive business plan convinced the jury. 'The great advantage of vertical farming is that crops can be grown under ideal conditions,' Slob previously told Nieuwe Oogst. 'Throughout the year, we can simulate the conditions of a perfect growing day, like a day in May, but even better. Where, on an ideal day in April or May, 200 kilos of dry matter per hectare might grow, vertical farming can achieve that 365 days a year. That's the difference we're talking about.'
Source: www.nieuweoogst.nl