From a Glass Jar to Global Reach

“When a group of Dutch farmers in the village of Achlum came together in 1811 to protect their livelihoods from haystack fires, they founded something extraordinary – they just didn’t know it yet. They pooled their money into a glass jar and embraced a cooperative insurance model with a greater purpose: reducing the risk of haystack fires, minimising financial loss, and maximising collective strength,” said Ilse van de Meent, General Manager Marketing and Communications, Achmea Farm Insurance.

More than two centuries later, that humble beginning has evolved into Achmea, a global financial services provider serving over 13 million clients, with international operations including Achmea Farm Insurance in Australia.

Despite its global footprint, Achmea’s cooperative heart remains unchanged.

“I love telling our ‘glass jar’ story,” says Ilse van de Meent. “And so do our people – whether they’re sitting at the boardroom table with farm managers or at a farmer’s kitchen table. It’s a story that resonates because it’s about community, resilience, and purpose,” Ilse said.  

Serving a Diverse and Evolving Agricultural Sector

Since entering the Australian market in 2013, Achmea Farm Insurance has experienced strong growth, serving the needs of Australia’s diverse farming sector, from family-owned farms to complex, large-scale commercial agribusinesses. The national specialist agricultural insurer prides itself on partnering directly with farmers, farm managers, C-suite executives, and investment managers overseeing complex portfolios of properties, machinery, and infrastructure.

“Australia’s farming landscape is incredibly diverse and constantly evolving, and often unpredictable,” Ilse says. “We work with a wide range of decision-makers, from multi-generational farmers to CFOs and asset managers, each with their own priorities, whether it’s protecting critical infrastructure, managing seasonal volatility, or ensuring business continuity across multiple sites. Achmea Farm Insurance’s “All-in-One Farm Pack” is purposefully designed to be flexible and scalable, so clients can tailor it to their specific risks, operations, and long-term goals, whether they’re running a family farm or managing a national portfolio,” Ilse says.

At the core of Achmea Farm Insurance’s offering is a simple yet powerful purpose: keeping farmers farming.

“This isn’t just a tagline,” Ilse says. “It’s a 200-year business ethos that traces back to that glass jar in Achlum.”

Insurance That’s Personal and Practical

Ilse’s passion for promoting the value of insurance is deeply personal. On the due date of her second child, she returned home to find the family home on fire.

“There was smoke everywhere, the walls were burning from the inside. Had I arrived home just a few minutes later, we could’ve lost everything,” she recalls.

“That experience stays with you. It’s why I believe so strongly in the importance of having the right insurance – and receiving a personal response when it matters most.”

A Local, Direct and Specialist Farm Insurance Partner

That philosophy – of being close to the client and ready to step up when they need it most – drives Achmea Farm Insurance’s local, direct, and specialist approach to insurance.

“We’re not just serving agricultural and regional communities, we’re part of them,” Ilse says. 

“Our clients also value our commitment to using local repairers and service providers, which supports local employment and further strengthens communities,” she says.

Guarantee Against Underinsurance: Peace of Mind

One feature of Achmea Farm Insurance’s All-in-One Farm Pack that Ilse finds especially important is the Guarantee Against Underinsurance – an optional cover available for eligible farm buildings.

“Underinsurance is a genuine concern,” Ilse said.

She explains that underinsurance can occur when the insured sum doesn’t adequately cover the cost of replacing or rebuilding what’s been insured.

“That is why Achmea Farm Insurance offers an optional Guarantee against Underinsurance cover for eligible farm buildings. It is designed to give farmers peace of mind if the unexpected happens,” Ilse says.

With rising costs of materials, labour, and energy, replacement costs can quickly outpace insured values. If the insured sum is below the replacement cost at the time of a claim, farmers may need to pay out of pocket to make up the difference. With this optional Guarantee Against Underinsurance cover, Achmea Farm Insurance will arrange and pay for the repair or rebuild of the insured building as it was when new or pay the equivalent amount.

“This can be particularly beneficial following major events like the recent floods, where shortages in supplies and builders can push rebuild costs above market level,” Ilse adds.

Tailored Cover for Unique Farms

“At Achmea Farm Insurance, we understand that no two farms are the same,” Ilse says.

“For some, a farm is a multi-generational legacy; for others, it’s a large-scale commercial operation with complex asset portfolios and supplier relationships. Our All-in-One Farm Pack gives clients the flexibility to choose what cover they need, where they need it, and how they need it – tailored to their specific farm, risks and business goals.”

This adaptability allows clients to customise their insurance across a wide range of assets, from homes and machinery to sheds and glasshouses.

Alongside its All-in-One Farm Pack product, the specialist agricultural insurer also offers Farm Fleet Insurance and Stud Stock Insurance.

A Shared Vision Between Nations

Ilse grew up in the Netherlands, where Achmea’s roots run deep, but has spent most of her career in Australia, and is proud of the unique and strong ties between the two countries.

Ilse recently participated in a Netherlands–Australia agricultural trade mission focused on collaboration in areas such as sustainability, growing more with less, and prevention-focused farming practices.

“There’s so much we can learn from each other,” she says. “Whether it’s sustainable farming, innovation in the glasshouse sector, or risk prevention, both countries bring unique strengths to the table. Collaboration between the two is not just beneficial, it’s essential for a sustainable future.”

One area of particular interest is the glasshouse industry, where Achmea Farm Insurance is actively supporting knowledge exchange with its colleagues in the Netherlands to help accelerate growth and innovation in Australia’s emerging protected cropping sector.

A Cooperative Foundation for a Sustainable Future

In the Netherlands, Achmea, through its vision of Sustainable Living Together, is actively looking for solutions and new perspectives that make society healthier, safer and more sustainable. For Achmea Farm Insurance in Australia, that same spirit drives local initiatives that support farming communities and promote sustainability.

“From a glass jar in that small Dutch country town to farms across Australia, I think the cooperative foundation is what makes Achmea special,” Ilse reflects.

“It’s about shared responsibility, long-term thinking, and being there for each other when it matters,” she says.

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To learn more about Achmea Farm Insurance or request a quote, visit www.achmea.com.au or call 1800 724 214.

Insurance issued by Achmea Schadeverzekeringen N.V. (Achmea) ABN 86 158 237 702 AFSL 433984. This information is general advice only. Read the PDS & TMD available on www.achmea.com.au to see if this insurance is right for you.