EDF Foundation
EDF Foundation
“Our Story: Celebrating Generations of Dairy Farming Excellence in Europe”European Dairy Farmers (EDF) e.V. stands as a community of forward-thinking dairy farmers. We provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge on an international scale, directly from farmer to farmer. EDF operates as a non-political, impartial, and independent organization, fueled by the progressive spirit of farmers. Our club conducts its activities primarily in English.
History
EDF owes its origins to two prominent German institutions: the German Agricultural Society (DLG) based in Frankfurt/Main, and the Thünen Institute (TI), formerly known as FAL (Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries), situated in Braunschweig. In collaboration with esteemed European dairy farmers, EDF was founded in Stoneleigh, UK, in 1990. EDF Vision Statement
“We want to be a club of the most innovative and progressive dairy entrepreneurs in Europe.”
Vision
Our vision reflects are commitment to fostering innovation and progressiveness within the dairy industry, aligning with its mission to support dairy farmers in Europe. It emphasizes the desire to be at the forefront of innovation and progress, which resonates with our goals of driving positive change and advancement within the dairy sector.
Our Mission Statement
Empowering European Dairy Farmers to Thrive in a Dynamic Industry"
Our Values
Milestones
Foundation of EDF STAR in 2000
EDF-LTO (Zuivel) Milk Price Comparison since 2002
First annual EDF Snapshot Survey in 2006 "From Farm Culture to Business Culture?" (annual Snapshot Survey done until 2021, replaced by the Question of the Month in 2022)
First annual Congress was held in Nitra, Slovakia
First regular full-time employee (me) from 2010, before people worked on service contracts and scholarships
Independence of EDF from DLG and vTI (Thünen-Institute) in 2014
Congress was organized in every European country
Launch of EDFConnect
Revamped Agri Partner concept
Our Structure
The structure of EDF is farmer-centric, designed by farmers for farmers. A key requirement is that more than 70% of its members must be actively engaged in dairy farming. The remaining 30% can include advisors, scientists, agribusiness partners, and others interested in the dairy sector. The General Assembly serves as EDF’s highest decision-making body. During this assembly, the EDF president, two vice presidents, and members of the EDF council are elected. Each member of the EDF council represents their respective country and is responsible for addressing daily operational matters. Importantly, all elected representatives must be active farmers. EDF’s benchmarking activities receive support from the Scientific Team for Analysis and Research (EDF STAR), comprising scientists, advisors, and dairy experts from EDF member countries.
Our Statute
As a registered association (German Register of Associations, Frankfurt/Main, no. VR14121), we act according to our statute. You can download it here to have a closer look at it.