Birgitte Wiedemann DaabeckSenior International AdvisorBusiness Development

Danish Agriculture

Danish Agriculture and Food CouncilUmbrella organisation formed in 1919

Merged with member organisations in 2009 for stronger political impact and improved efficiency

Financed, owned and controlled by farmers and cooperatives

Representing the entire chain of production "from the stable to the table - primary producers, sectors and cooperatives

A Few Facts about Danish Agriculture61% of Denmark's total area is cultivated - 2.6 mill. Ha>50% grain; 20 – 30% forage crops6% organic (total farms + total area)

42,100 farms (vs. 140,000 in 1970)1,300 horticulture producers (500 ha.)Average farm size 63 ha. (vs. 21 ha. in 1970)

Labour force, agriculture primary production 2.5%The industry accounts for 3% of GDP

20 mill. slaughter pigs per year9,7 mill. live piglets and sows exported

512,808 dairy cows (9,138 kg milk per cow)

Producing food for 15 million peopleTotal exports EUR 20 billion including agro industrial products

Farms and cooperatives - structural development1903 1939 1964 1992 2009 2015

Total farms 260,000 210,000 175,000 75,000 47,384 31,622

Co-operative dairies 1,046 1,399 904 23 11 12

Total members 148,000 189,900 135,600 17,789 4,126 3,424

Co-operative slaughterhouses 27 61 62 5 2 2

Total members 65,824 194,065 133,088 36,020 11,100 3,259

Egg selling groups 475 800 1,400 1 1 1

Total members 33,000 42,600 60,000 170 75 50

Grain processing associations 1,505 1,605 83 8 8

Total members 30,000 95,306 107,100 47,000 48,000 20,000

Characteristics of Danish Agriculture

The farmer

Owns and operates his own farm

Is well educated and participates regularly in educational activities

Is member of a farmer organisation

Sells and buys most of his product through farmer owned cooperatives

Employs only few technical staff - uses instead advisory services

30,000 farms larger than 10 hectares

1950: 208,000 Farms

2005: 20,000 Farms 30,000 Part time farmers

2015: 5-7,000 Farm enterprises 30,000 Part time farmers

Evolution of farms in Denmark

The role of the farmer is changing

To managerFormulation of strategyManagement of staffManagement of production and economyMonitoring the herd by use of technology

From skilled craftsmanDoing all the farm work- Milking and feeding- Field work- Monitoring the herd

Enterprise Farms and Customer ProfilesValue added

Multi-sites-Portfolio

Bulk- More ofthe Same

The Danish farmer demands

Excellent professional skills

Customer focus – individualtreatment

Commitment to the task at

hand

Focus on innovation and

business

Facts & Figures - Denmark • Export: 20 billion euros• 20 % of total DK export• 37 % of total DK export to

BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China)

• Export to 130 countries• German is our largest market• DK is a leader in organic food

and food ingredients• Carlsberg, Arla Foods and

Danish Crown are the largest companies

• Dansk Supermarked is retailer no. 1

Source: Landbrug & Fødevarer,

Denmark is recognized as the most innovative country in Europe for food innovation

12Source: LEI Wageningen UR Report 2013-036

The Danish Way!

Well educated farmersOnly farmers who graduate from an agricultural college can run a farm Strong organisation of farmersClear division between private and public responsibilitiesGradual readjustment of advisory service from public subsidised to private organisationStrong knowledge based services with customer focusStrong cooperative sectorLevies finance research and development

Lessons learnedRecognised public interest in agricultural development and food production value chains led to enabling policy environment

Self-organisation by farmers

Grass-root development – built on farmers’ private commercial interest

Impartiality of advisers – ensured farmers’ interests

Organisational learning created capacity for lobby and advocacy

Education and knowledge were both preconditions and tools

Thank you for your attention!