Organic farmer Tom Kass, whose Kass-Haff near Mersch is part of the BioG cooperative, will find out next Friday, 23 September if he has been named "best male organic farmer" at the inaugural EU Organic Awards.
Kass is one of three short-listed finalists in the category, alongside farmers from Croatia and Italy. Women farmers from Austria, Spain and Italy are up for the best female organic prize, while other categories include best organic retailer, best organic region, best organic SME and best organic city.
“The awards have been organised by the European Commission to recognise outstanding achievements in the organic value chain in Europe. Organic farming is not only environmentally friendly, but it also has a positive impact on climate, biodiversity and animal welfare. Its growth will contribute significantly to reduce the use of pesticides, imported nitrogen and animal fodder from overseas,” says the Commission. “It plays a key role in achieving the goals of the EU Farm to Fork strategy, but consumer demand of organic products is still to be stimulated.”
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Promoting the benefits of organic agriculture and building trust in organic products, by hosting the EU Organic Awards, for example, is part of the mission to meet a target of 25% of EU agricultural land being under organic farming by 2030.
Kass-Haff has highly diversified plant and animal production as well as a BioG-cheese dairy for processing the farm's own Demeter milk, a Naturata supermarket offering a range of organic products, including BIOG products and a kindergarten.
We have tried to create our vision of modern agriculture
According to the results of an audit-tool developed in Germany by Christian Hiß that measures sustainability performance and its monetary value for society, Kass-Haff shows high social, economic and ecological benefits, including effective organisation along the regional organic value chain based upon fair partnerships and regional synergies.
“The farm is a project that is close to our heart. We have tried to create our vision of modern agriculture,” said Kass. Being part of the Oikopolis group provides the farm with some security, Kass added. “We know that we are not alone. It fits with our way of thinking.”
The farm’s popular educational service has made it flagship for the regional organic value chain by showing around 40 people a day practices of sustainable farming and processing. It can also be used to host children’s birthday parties.
The farm is unique and has a clear identity, but it is also a concept that can easily be replicated, which was one of the selection criteria of the EU Organic Awards.