We recently came back from a visit to ‘Farmers Circle’ and want to share the insights with you 🙂
Our journey with the Farmers Circle initiative in Lithuania began when we started thinking of farmers to visit in Lithuania while we were still in Kenya. We learned about Valentinas Genys a pioneer in regenerative farming methods in Lithuania and about his very good and likeminded friend Niels Peter Pretzmann. Who has a unique farming business model, which fascinatingly combines environmental and socio-economic aspects with a strong focus on people and community. But how does he do that?
Intrigued by the work Valentinas and Niels Were doing, we invited Virginijus Sinkevičius (former European Commissioner for Environment and Oceans, and current EU Parliament candidate), to join us for a 50km bike tour visiting both farms in September 2023. This tour was part of the “Cycle to Farms” mission, which aims to bridge the gap between policymakers and farmers, and stimulate dialogue on the future of agriculture.
The visit focused on the solutions that Lithuanian farmers themselves have initiated to overcome climate change challenges. We aimed to highlight models for alternative farming systems that can help farmers escape from locked-in practices. By seeing these practical examples outside their usual knowledge base, policymakers gain valuable insights into potential policy changes in support of durable and visible agricultural transition.
The experience went beyond observation. We also enjoyed delicious foods, mostly produced on the farms.
Fast forward to this summer, we visited Niels’ farm again, spending a whole day chatting with Niels, the Farm Manager, and other employees. We couldn’t resist buying some of his delicious products produced on farm such as the dill oil, caramelized onion and aubergine dip. Since our first visit, we’ve witnessed an immense change on Niels’ farm. Niels is taking the initiative to shorten the supply chain further. After endless battles with veterinary authorities, they are about to finalize and start running their own slaughterhouse. This ensures the processing quality of the sustainably produced Angus beef, reduces transportation costs when using other slaughterhouses, and shortens the logistical chain. It also adds to the local food production dimension.
Another significant achievement over the year is that Niels’ farm-to-fork restaurant, Red Bricks, was recently awarded a Michelin Green Star for its sustainability efforts. It’s the first Green Star in Lithuania. For Niels, it’s an important reward for his sustainable food production efforts, but as an entrepreneur, he sees this recognition as an opportunity to bring more customers to the farm, and raise important discussions about local, clean, and healthy food production.
Our visit was highlighted by participating in “Joninės,” a midsummer festival celebrating the longest night of the year with Lithuanian folk traditions. The festival, named “Farm on Fire,” concluded with a celebratory bonfire, following local customs. It was a unique blend of local folklore, rock music performances, and, most importantly, a sustainability conference. This conference focused on individual contributions to environmental protection and the local and global impacts of climate change, all with an eye towards a sustainable future for Lithuania. The festival served as a brilliant bridge between the farm and consumers, offering opportunities to discuss and taste local food while reimagining the future of our global and local food system.
We wanted to share a glimpse of our visit with you today, but this is just the beginning! We’re writing a more detailed article for The Furrow, John Deere’s magazine, that will delve deeper into Niels’ methods and the importance of the socio-economic aspects at the heart of his Farmers Circle farm. This topic is often overlooked in discussions about regenerative agriculture.
With gratitude,
Aisha & Lukas