Organic farmers from Ukraine learnt about biodynamic farms in the federal state of Brandenburg and in Berlin
There are currently over 400 organic farms in Ukraine. Some of these farms are also interested in biodynamic farming methods. There are currently 45 farms and 35 private individuals organised in the "Biodynamika Ukraina" association. Last year, the association expressed the wish to get to know biodynamic farms in Germany and to gain an impression of the production methods and diversity of these organically certified Demeter farms. With the support of the non-profit association "Arvense Lebendiges Lernen", the association "Demeter im Osten", the “Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft” and the project "German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture (COA)", the information trip was now realized at the end of June 2024. The trip was attended by 15 farmers and other interested persons from all over Ukraine, several of them from certified organic farms. The trip was organized by Wiebke Deeken, who knows the Demeter farms in Brandenburg well, and the head of the COA project, Dr Stefan Dreesmann.
The five days were packed full of information on organic farming and biodynamic farming methods. A total of 14 farms, traders and processors opened their doors to the visitors from Ukraine and provided in-depth insights into their farms, their motivation, their processing or the marketing of their products. Each farm is unique. Starting with the "Marienhöhe" farm, which has been operating organically since 1928, to various horticultural businesses such as the "Apfeltraum" farm or the "Kuhhorster" and "Karolinenhof" farms, which keep cows, goats, pigs and geese and process their products.
Employees of the organic trading company "Terra" in Berlin, a company with an annual turnover of 150 million, gave the participants an impression of the trade in organic products in the German capital and in Brandenburg. The Ukrainian farmers were also able to gain an in-depth insight into the processing of biodynamic organic grain produced in Brandenburg during an evening visit to the "Märkisches Landbrot" bakery in Berlin. Around 10,000 organic loaves are baked here every evening and night and sold in Berlin and the surrounding area.
An additional special highlight on the last day was a visit to the large Demeter farm "Brodowin" in the north of Brandenburg and participation in the 100th anniversary celebrations of biodynamic farming. Delegates from all 5 continents were represented there. In a moving speech by Evgenya Yushchenko, board member of Biodynamika Ukraina, she informed the 300 participants at the celebration about the situation on the farms in Ukraine and the work of her organization.
"I am sure that everyone involved in this trip took a lot home back to Ukraine with them," said Dr Stefan Dreesmann, head of the "German-Ukrainian Cooperation" project. "A lot of information about organic farming and how to organize your farm and market your products. And a lot of inspiration to break new ground, no matter how small or large the farm is," continued Dr. Dreesmann.
