A Dutch dairy farmer faced with falling milk prices has begun a 3D printed cheese business as a way to value-add her product.

Michaëla van Leeuwen farms in the eastern region of the Netherlands, and launched her 3D printed cheese product at a Dutch food conference in April.

Ms van Leeuwen said she started to think about diversifying after the farm gate milk price dropped in the Netherlands, and she and her husband were forced to relocate their farm.

She had been introduced to 3D printing through some work she was doing off the farm, and started investigating if it was possible to print cheese.

"I searched if there was anyone who printed with cheese, because chocolate was already being used," she said.

"I found out that nobody had tried to print with gouda cheese or fresh cheese.

"So I started a project and found that it was possible to print with fresh gouda cheese."

Ms van Leeuwen said she pre-made a soft cheese, then used the printer to create different shapes.

She said she aimed to use the printer in her cheese store to make custom cheese shapes.

"If you want to give your husband for a Valentine yourself as a sculpture, then you can say to your husband that you are delicious," she said.

"You can have a sculpture of your husband in gouda cheese."

A cheese spiral made using a 3D printer. ( Supplied: Michaëla van Leeuwen )

Low prices impact on farmers

Ms van Leeuwen said the farm gate milk price in the Netherlands had dropped below the cost of production for Dutch farmers.

"We get about 28 cents per litre. Last year it was 40 cents and that was a good price," she said.

"If the farmers want to earn something, then the price has to be 35 cents a litre."

She said printing cheese created a niche product and allowed her to build a relationship with her customers.

"Our price at the moment is very low in Holland for our milk," she said.

"I use the printer to communicate with our consumer and explain how our cows are living and how we take care of them."

Niche product adds value to milk production

Ms van Leeuwen said farmers faced with low prices could use niche products and marketing to add value to their milk production.

She said her 3D printed cheese and the marketing she had done to gain momentum had helped "tell the story" of her business.

"People in Holland are searching [to know] where their product is from," she said.

"[Consumers] want to hear the story, they want to meet the farmers, they want to see the cows in the fields."

Ms van Leeuwen said she would like to look into selling 3D cheese printers to cheese makers and dairies.