Following H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s state visit to Denmark in 1960, during which he visited the Danish government experimental farms, “Favrholm” and “Trollesminde,” in Hillerød, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great had an initiative to develop a dairy farm in Thailand to create jobs and income for Thai farmers. This gave rise to the technical cooperation to transfer Danish knowledge and expertise in dairy farming and production to Thailand.

In 1961, the Danish government and Danish Dairy Farming Association donated 4.33 million Danish kroner to initiate the dairy farm project in Thailand. Subsequently, the two governments signed a technical farming cooperation agreement and the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm (TDDF) together with a training center was established in Muak Lek District in Saraburi Province. On 16 January 1962, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand together with H.M. King Frederik IX and H.M. Queen Ingrid of Denmark presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm (TDDF), as part of their state visit to Thailand.

The inception of the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm (TDDF) led to close cooperation between the Danish Farmer's Association and the Thai Government. The Danish Farmer's Association gave the Thai people 160 dairy cattle at the commencement of the farm, followed by an exchange of technical and financial assistance, which contributed to the continued growth of the farm. In 1971, the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm (TDDF) was handed over to the Thai government and renamed the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO).

The Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) is the maker of the “Thai-Danish” milk,  displaying the logo of 2 red cows, which is now one of the most popular milk brands in Thailand, accounting for 45 percent of the country’s total milk output. In addition, DPO continues to modernize the Thai-Danish dairy market to attract wider customers’ segments and to expand its market. The company has developed new product lines such as yogurt and ice cream.

The Thai-Danish Dairy Farm (TDDF) is one of the most successful examples of the technical cooperation between Thailand and Denmark. Today, the “Thai-Danish” milk is considered a symbol of a long-standing and concrete cooperation between the two nations. 

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Story by: Chinnavat Samranjai

               Munchuta Suadmalai Olsen

Picture 1: H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand together with H.M. King Frederik IX and H.M. Queen Ingrid of Denmark inaugurated the Thai-Danish Farm (TDDF) on January 16, 1962

Picture 2: Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) today

Picture 3: New products from DPO