Alex Datema (58) has served as Director of Food & Agri at Rabobank Netherlands since
May 1, 2023. In addition to his role at the bank, he has co-managed a dairy farm in
Groningen for over 35 years, together with a business partner. The farm comprises 120 dairy
cows and 70 hectares of grassland.
In his current position, Datema is committed to promoting a future-proof agricultural sector
in the Netherlands. He contributes to shaping the bank’s agricultural and horticultural policies
and its area-based approach, working closely with colleagues to implement and communicate
these strategies both within and outside the organization.
Previously, Datema served for more than seven years as chairman of BoerenNatuur, an
association dedicated to agricultural nature management and nature-inclusive farming. He is a
member of the Scientific Council for Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition and a
co-initiator of the Delta Plan for Biodiversity Recovery. Early in his career, he gained his first
leadership experience as vice-chairman of the Dutch Agricultural Youth Association (NAJK),
a role he held for two years.
Alex Datema: “When I became a farmer 35 years ago, my partner and I focused entirely on
producing food—milk and meat, in our case. Over the past twenty years, I’ve come to realize
that farming is about much more than that. As a farmer, you also bear responsibility for
preserving and restoring a biodiverse landscape. Nature provides us with many services, and
we must take good care of it.”
This perspective informs both his farming practices and his role at Rabobank. A resilient food
system is about restoring balance—in nature, agriculture, and business models. Achieving
this requires change and collaboration across the entire value chain, from farmers to retailers
and consumers. Drawing on its cooperative heritage, sector-specific expertise, networks, and
financial solutions, Rabobank is well-positioned to support clients through this transition. Our
vision is to make sustainably produced food the standard—accessible and available to
everyone.
May 1, 2023. In addition to his role at the bank, he has co-managed a dairy farm in
Groningen for over 35 years, together with a business partner. The farm comprises 120 dairy
cows and 70 hectares of grassland.
In his current position, Datema is committed to promoting a future-proof agricultural sector
in the Netherlands. He contributes to shaping the bank’s agricultural and horticultural policies
and its area-based approach, working closely with colleagues to implement and communicate
these strategies both within and outside the organization.
Previously, Datema served for more than seven years as chairman of BoerenNatuur, an
association dedicated to agricultural nature management and nature-inclusive farming. He is a
member of the Scientific Council for Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition and a
co-initiator of the Delta Plan for Biodiversity Recovery. Early in his career, he gained his first
leadership experience as vice-chairman of the Dutch Agricultural Youth Association (NAJK),
a role he held for two years.
Alex Datema: “When I became a farmer 35 years ago, my partner and I focused entirely on
producing food—milk and meat, in our case. Over the past twenty years, I’ve come to realize
that farming is about much more than that. As a farmer, you also bear responsibility for
preserving and restoring a biodiverse landscape. Nature provides us with many services, and
we must take good care of it.”
This perspective informs both his farming practices and his role at Rabobank. A resilient food
system is about restoring balance—in nature, agriculture, and business models. Achieving
this requires change and collaboration across the entire value chain, from farmers to retailers
and consumers. Drawing on its cooperative heritage, sector-specific expertise, networks, and
financial solutions, Rabobank is well-positioned to support clients through this transition. Our
vision is to make sustainably produced food the standard—accessible and available to
everyone.