SFR's 90th Anniversary: Celebrating Our Legacy and Looking to the Future
Jan Kamphof:
“At Schothorst Feed Research, from the very first day, I felt at home. The combination of expertise, teamwork, and passion for livestock farming is truly inspiring,” says Jan, who became CEO of SFR in September 2023. Since then, Jan hasn’t looked back, feeling privileged to lead this innovative and independent research company.
A Legacy of Knowledge and Global Impact
Jan’s journey to SFR began during his time at Agrifirm and Hamlet Protein, where he first became familiar with the organisation's reputation. “I’ve always been impressed with how SFR supports feed producers with matrix data and recommendations. Today, our knowledge helps 25% of EU feed producers in their formulations, and that percentage continues to grow globally, with over 10% of international producers now relying on us. It’s an exciting time to be here, leading these impactful activities.”
Not only does SFR focus on research and consultancy, but it also operates its own 88 hectares of land, a dairy farm with 210 milking cows, an integrated swine farm, and poultry farms at its Lelystad location. “For a farmer’s son like me, this combination made joining SFR even more appealing.”
Shaping the Future of Livestock Farming
As Jan explains, “SFR is an independent knowledge partner for feed producers and suppliers of ingredients and additives. Unlike many universities, we focus on applied research that leads to practical solutions.” With strong roots in Europe and Asia, SFR continues to grow its global footprint. “In 2023, 60% of our turnover was realised outside of the Netherlands, and we expect that figure to rise in the coming years, especially with increasing interest from Asia and Southern Europe.”
Jan sees the challenges and opportunities ahead: “While Western Europe faces complex regulations and declining animal numbers, Asia and Africa are experiencing growing demand for animal proteins. This presents significant opportunities for SFR, particularly through our AFP package for compound feed producers and contract research for ingredient suppliers.”
Innovating for a Sustainable Future
One of SFR’s main focuses is innovation, with exciting projects on the horizon: “We’re working on reducing methane emissions, precision feeding, circular ingredients, fibre fermentation technologies, and much more. I’m convinced these innovations will help create a more sustainable livestock production chain.”
Looking to the future, SFR is committed to expanding its reach and making a difference: “We aim to inspire our partners worldwide to contribute to a sustainable livestock industry. By growing our team of researchers and consultants, we’re poised to continue leading the way, particularly in Europe and Asia.”
Jan is clear: “We can’t do this alone. Collaboration is vital, and we are increasingly involved in Public-Private Partnerships, working alongside universities, research institutes, and our customers globally. We’re also bringing in external experts for our educational programmes and partnering to facilitate growth in contract research.”
What to Expect from SFR
SFR remains committed to its core mission—being the independent knowledge partner for applied animal nutrition. “We will continue developing and testing new innovations, expanding into new geographies, and sharing our expertise at scientific seminars and industry events. Education and consultancy will remain at the heart of what we do.”
And as for the future? “We’re always on the lookout for ambitious, talented individuals who share our passion for livestock farming and want to make a global impact. Our team is diverse, with roles ranging from animal caretakers to international researchers and consultants. If you want to be part of our journey, we’d love to hear from you.”
