A region-wide opportunity

“My role might be called central procurement,” Woolf begins, “but it’s really about strengthening supplier relationships across regions and unlocking new opportunities for co-products. In liquid feeding, that means working closely with co-product partners to build trust and infrastructure. On the other hand our sales team colleagues are helping farmers intensively shifting to liquid feeding.”

The liquid feeding opportunity is rooted in the agricultural geography of Europe. “Northern countries like Germany, Poland and the UK are large producers of wheat. In the south, it’s usually maize,” Woolf explains. This difference shapes the availability of co-products like distillery syrups, which are co-products of wheat-based ethanol from starch and biofuel industry.

These syrups are known by many names, like Trafford Syrup, Bergapro and Protiwanze. These names vary slightly by brand or region, but they share a common origin. “Despite all the names, we’re essentially talking about similar type of products,” says Woolf. “We already handle 600,000 tonnes of these syrups across the region, and we see potential to develop a market for another 500,000 tonnes. That’s why we commissioned a dairy trial with Schothorst Feed Research: to strengthen the nutritional case and support our Unlock 30 growth plan.”

Proving the product

With the sector evolving quickly, robust scientific backing is vital. “We needed independent proof that higher inclusion rates of up to 12kg syrup per cow per day in a dairy feed ration wouldn’t negatively impact animal performance,” Woolf says. “And that’s exactly what the Schothorst research confirmed. We didn’t see a drop in milk yield. In fact, cows showed good intake levels and remained healthy.”

According to Woolf, the research also tackled long-held perceptions, particularly in mature markets like the Netherlands. “There’s this idea that Distillery syrups impact animal performance. It’s not true. The trial proved that we can now go beyond the three or four kilos per day limit that farmers had in their minds.”

Tailored approach per market

While the products are similar, the market conditions across Europe differ greatly. In Poland, for example, rapid farm scale-up is creating new demand. “The Polish dairy farm market is developing rapidly ,” Woolf says. “Larger, more professional farms are now operating at a scale where it is economically attractive to install liquid feeding infrastructure.”

Northern France presents a different challenge. “There’s plenty of syrup supply—some of it even exported to Belgium and the Netherlands—but the product awareness on the farm is low. We need to build demand by working closely with farmers to show the economic benefits of feeding syrup instead of sowing Maize seed for forage.”

Making it work on the farm

Infrastructure is key. Liquid feed requires storage tanks, and many farmers are wary of the upfront investment. That’s where Duynie steps in. “We often provide tanks—either large ones for big farms or smaller versions,” Woolf explains.

Woolf also points out the role of palatability. “These products are tasty, they improve feed intake and promote ration homogeneity. Cows eat more, and that’s always a good sign.”

Supplier benefits and sustainability

The story isn’t just about farmers. For co-product producers, switching from drying feed co-products to delivering it as a liquid has major sustainability and cost advantages.

“Drying syrup with wheat bran to create wheat gluten feed is energy-intensive and yields 20–21% protein (DM Basis),” Woolf notes. “By moving to liquid feeding, co-product partners can reduce emissions, save on energy and gain financially.”

Duynie’s job is to provide stability. “Co-product partners want to stop drying, but they need confidence that the market for liquid feed exists. That’s where we come in.”

Looking ahead

Woolf sees the future of liquid feeding as evolutionary rather than revolutionary. “We’re professionalising the use of liquids as a commonly accepted nutritional source,” he says. “The market has grown to around 2 million tonnes over the past two decades. I can easily see a comparable growth over the next ten years.”

But success depends on the right infrastructure and the right partners. “Smaller farms may drop out. Large, professional farms will drive demand growth. We’re ready to support them—with tanks, logistics, quality assurance and a clear, research-backed nutritional message.”

Final thoughts

“Ultimately, this is about proving value to co-product partners and giving farmers confidence to adopt a smart, cost-effective solution,” Woolf concludes. “It’s not just a trend—it’s a practical evolution in modern farming.”