A lifetime of pioneering reproductive technology
Former director Dirk Postma is officially retired, but he is still occasionally called in for projects and consultancy – something he continues to do with great conviction. His passion for the field remains as strong as ever, and his knowledge is invaluable. He has left a permanent footprint not only within NIFA but also in the world of animal reproductive technology.
Since 1979, Dirk has been a familiar face in our field. “At that time, artificial insemination (A.I.) was only available for cattle. There were only 46 A.I. associations in the Netherlands. I was right in the middle of the sector, exactly when it started to transform,” says Dirk.
“In the 1980s, swine A.I. began to emerge. For NIFA, this represented an entirely new business branch. Driven by curiosity and craftsmanship, I made sure we stayed ahead in development – something that still defines NIFA’s DNA today. Around 1988, embryo transfer in cattle became an important new branch,” Dirk continues. “In the same period, we began an intensive collaboration with IMV France, which in 2010 led to further international development for NIFA and eventually to the acquisition by IMV. Not long after, in 1989, helped with the set up of Embrytec – a revolutionary lab for cattle embryo technology at the time.”
Dirk was also closely involved in equiine A.I., which started to rise in the early 1990s. “Today, around two hundred laboratories – for both fresh and frozen semen – have been set up by NIFA. When setting up an equine A.I. station, it often requires more customization,” he explains.
Dirk remained active at NIFA until 2020 and, over the years, has helped establish numerous labs across Europe and beyond. Notable examples include laboratories for the processing and storage of human donor semen and IVF, as well as the wide implementation of CASA systems within globally operating genetic giants like CRV and TOPIGS. There was also a European collaboration with ST (Sexing Technologies) for the setup of laboratories.
His career is a blueprint of the sector’s growth – from craftsmanship to high-tech equipment in cell biology. Create new life with our technology – precisely what Dirk has been doing for over forty years.
