Marjolein Derks

Dr. Marjolein Derks is an Assistant Professor in the Farm Technology Group at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in design within agricultural systems. She holds a veterinary degree from Utrecht University and completed a PhD on the economic benefits of veterinary advice in dairy farming. Her postdoctoral work in France and Sweden focused on modeling dairy cow fertility using progesterone profiles. She teaches courses such as Biosystems Design and supervises BSc, MSc, and PhD students. Her research emphasizes regenerative agriculture, circular systems, and technology integration in livestock management.

Education

• Bachelor’s/Master’s in Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University (2010)
• PhD: Economic Benefits of Veterinary Advice on Dairy Farms (Farm Animal Husbandry Department)
• Postdoc: Modeling Fertility in Dairy Cows (France/Sweden)

Research Interests

Dr. Derks focuses on sustainable livestock systems, design methodologies for agriculture, and technology applications in animal production. Key areas include circular farming, regenerative agriculture, and smart technologies for farm efficiency. Her work bridges engineering and veterinary science to address environmental and economic challenges in agriculture.

Projects

• Regenerative Farming: Developing 2050 visions for Dutch arable and dairy sectors.
• Smart Indonesian Agriculture: Implementing IoT and sensor technologies in fish/dairy farms.
• Connected Circular Systems: Safety assessments for circular nutrient flows.

Teaching & Supervision

She teaches courses like Engineering Design and oversees MSc and PhD theses in agricultural biosystems engineering. Her students engage in applied research across design, modeling, and sustainability.