SHORT DESCRIPTION 
Tracy Hamilton and her husband currently farm a total of 485Ha, an increase from 93Ha in 2004. A variety of vegetables including potatoes, carrots, parsnip, turnip and cabbage are grown on the farm. The Hamilton’s had been successfully growing and selling vegetables for over 20 years. In 2014, they decide to diversify their wholesale vegetable farming by adding value to their raw vegetables and so Mash Direct was set up. Tracy and her family diversify their wholesale vegetable farming business into a food production business, cooked fresh from the farm.

INNOVATION
The primary innovation was changing the farm to a specialist food production enterprise, focused on ready-meals; the team became also pioneer in half-sleeve packaging. In addition, a bespoke machinery was introduced, then a unique masher and a stream cooker were specially built. A selection of older heritage vegetable varieties are grown specifically for the taste, and the vegetables are grown in the surrounding fields and be delivered to the processing unit within minutes and ensuring taste, quality and freshness. The company now produces quality, convenient vegetable and potato dishes ranging from traditional accompaniments of mash potato and champ to complete ready-meals. There are suitable for microwave and oven heating, are free from artificial additives, preservatives and colourings and are low in salt; moreover, the majority of their products are Gluten Free.

SHORT DESCRIPTION 
Petra worked as registered nurse (up to 2000); after her husband took over his parents’ farm, the family moved to the farm. It is an agricultural and forestry holding covering 13Ha of grassland and 13Ha of woodland. The earnings from suckler cows and wood production were too low for a family to live on so Petra came up with the idea to combine her profession with the farm and convert it into a professional care facility.

INNOVATION
The innovation links organic farming with a professional care facility. Petra therefore became an important employer, especially for women living in the region. Most of the companies involved in the construction of the care facility were based in the region, and other local farms cooperate by supplying produce and wood chips. Local grown timber was used for construction and a wood-chip heating system was installed. In October 2012, the very 1st resident was able to move in. The nursing services provided comprise residential care for all levels of care and the small numbers of places (14) makes it easily to cater to the individual needs. It has been operating at 100% capacity utilisation since it opened, and it has led to the creation of 12 innovative and secure jobs for local employees. Moreover, the old barn, has been converted to a barrier-free barn (wheelchair’s opportunity).

SHORT DESCRIPTION 
The farm located in El Raso (Candeleda), in a protected area, has 500 goats of Verata breed that graze daily in nearby fields. Maribel has gradually increased the herd size and, in the future, she expects to reach  700 goats. The hard work of Maribel, married and mother of two children, the oldest of eight brothers (three of them disabled) has contributed to the awareness of rural women. Moreover, the farm is located on a less favoured area

INNOVATION
She developed a modern goat farm and devotes her life to animal safeguard by breeding Veratas a goat breed in risk of disappearance. These goals imply technological developments in the milking parlour, diversification (elaboration of goat milk soaps), an efficient use of renewable resources, a proper waste management and direct selling to hotels and restaurants throughout Spain. The project started in 1994 and it is innovative in several areas; the latest technological innovations introduced in the milking parlour are gauges and specific teat cups for the Verata breed, that improve suction and animal welfare, and improvements in the control of feeding. In the meantime, she became a reference for goat stockbreeders by her achievements in higher efficiency, sustainable management of resources and the preservation of the Verata breed. The visit of the farm is free and became a tourist attraction in the region.

SHORT DESCRIPTION 

Djûke studied Landscape Architecture and Planning, she was active in student and young farmers organisations. She worked part-time at her parent’s farm and part-time in an environmental cabinet. After four years she became a full time worker at the farm. Djûke took over the farm from her parents and became the only young female apple grower in the country. The farm consists of growing fruits (apples, pears, cherries), sugar-corn, pumpkins, forestry and grassland. It also includes a farm shop, education for school children, a horse nursery, agricultural nature conservation and cattle (Dutch breed: Blaarkop).

INNOVATION

In 2012, Djûke started her own fruit trading company and created a new market by exploring a niche between conventional and organic. In this system, 8 farmers and several buyers are working together and all growers are producing fruits in the same sustainable way as she does. Since 2013, she has started FAB-strips (Functional Agro Biodiversity) planted with flowers all around the orchard which now represent approximately 30.000m². Others projects she is involved with are strongly related to the community (foundation with mentally disabled clients, local beekeepers, restaurants, museums, local groups…). As the Milieukeur certification scheme didn’t exist for fruit growers, she helped the organisation by setting it up. She also introduced the production of kiwi in the farm. She went to Italy to found the right variety and now most of the plants have survived their first winter. Djûke might be the first kiwi-fruit grower in The Netherlands.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Anna comes from the eighth generation of family members who live and work on Där Söre. This Swedish farm has been in the family since 1765 and produces potatoes, strawberries and vegetables that are sold to companies and directly to consumers. During the summer, there is also a farm café and a small shop that sells locally grown and locally made products from other farms and small enterprises. Tourists and local families seize this opportunity to have a picnic and stroll around too. The farm is certified by the Swedish IP – standard certifying contributions to sustainable development in crop and animal production. Anna’s approach focuses on reducing waste, and changing the standards and packaging of potatoes. The farm and company employ about 50 people, most of whom are temporary workers during the summer season.

INNOVATION

In 2000, Anna Willén realised that producing potatoes and selling to companies and directly to consumers was not very profitable and generated a lot of waste, because any potatoes that were too small ended up being fed to pigs. By selecting small potatoes and packing them in 1 kg bags, Anna created an innovative concept for the Swedish market, which was not used to seeing small bags of potatoes sold straight to the consumer. She called them “Gourmetpotatis” (gourmet potatoes). Anna also reduced waste by printing the product information and recipes straight onto the bag. Her gourmet potatoes became a premium product, which have increased incomes for all farmers who have adopted these new communication and packing methods. Potatoes have once again regained their rightful place in Swedish food culture.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Lisa runs Seggio, an organic family farm situated in the unspoiled hills of the Tosco-Togmagnolo Appeninnes, in the province of Forli-Cesena, Italy. After having graduated as a veterinary surgeon, she started becoming interested in local zootechnical problems and decided to better her work with other farmers, and improve the quality of their finished products. In order to do just that, Lisa created the Bio Valbidente consortium, which is a sales point for organic farmers, and began using mycorrhiza for symbiotic agricultural production. Lisa’s farm produces cereals, feed and livestock, and everything is minutely controlled. Lisa has also written a product specification, contributing to improving the local economy with good, clean, fair and innovative products.

INNOVATION

In 2014, after several experiments, Lisa developed an innovative symbiotic agriculture project using mycorrhiza at sowing. Mycorrhiza is a fungus that colonises the roots of the cereals, feed crops, trees and vegetables, and helps the crops capture more nutrients. This process maintains and develops the microbiological sustainability of the soil and plants, and also gives the final product better organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. For instance, they contain natural biota, which is a good bacteria that betters human health. These results were confirmed by national research institutes and have been published in specialist magazines. At the same time, Lisa wanted to control the quality of the meat produced by the farm and so created a fully controlled system. The meat now contains more elements, such as lycopene, carotene, phenols and antioxidants. What’s more, the higher percentage of polyphenols and enzymes in the meat facilitates human digestion. Lisa also found that this approach reduced nitrate residues in fruits and vegetables. Lisa’s aim was to improve the health of the population when she began the Bio Valbidente consortium. With her symbiotic method, she hopes to reduce the incidence of certain diseases, such as gastro-intestinal disorders, obesity, hepatic steatosis and diabetes. Lisa brought other farms, local schools, oncological institutes, public administrators and associations in Romagna on board too, and the local economy is more dynamic, food production is cheaper and the methods used are more sustainable.