Conservationists from the programme Living landscape, run under the auspices of the BROZ conservation association with financial support from VÚB banka, have spent the past two days on the second edition of the awards for nature-friendly farms, known as Living farm. They visited eight agricultural businesses together with an expert panel made up of leading specialists from research institutions, universities and advisory services. Three years ago, together with them, they drew up the criteria used to assess the strengths of farms in terms of landscape and biodiversity protection. On each farm they look, for example, at the condition of the soil and water and how the farmers treat them, how permanent grassland is cared for, and what specific measures are in place to support biodiversity.
In its second edition, the Farma živá award went to all eight of the visited, exceptionally inspiring farms. „They are examples of a sensitive approach to the landscape, and of farmers, smallholders and enthusiasts who stand firmly behind the way they work. Their efforts inspire us, and we believe the award can help strengthen local, nature-friendly farming initiatives like these, as well as nature conservation itself.“ said Karolína Gelatičová, manager of the Krajina živá programme
The first farm the conservationists and experts visited was Herba Danubia in the village of Kravany nad Dunajom. As the name of the farm suggests, the focus here is mainly on growing and processing herbs. In southern Slovakia, the award also went to Ekofarma Góra from Salka. The expert panel was impressed by the owner's responsible approach to nature and a well-thought-out closed cycle that culminates in top-quality meat products. A very similar story is that of Farma Kuchyňa, which raises cattle in a nature-friendly, free-range way in Záhorie.
An important part of the landscape is made up not only of businesses farming hundreds of hectares, like those named above, but also of smaller family farms. Among them, this time the panel recognised, for example, the Mátyás family winery in Nová Vieska. Their philosophy in growing grapes is a return to nature, working in harmony with it without squandering its resources, farming sustainably and increasing biodiversity. Inspiration worthy of an award was also found at Farma u Felixov in Horné Mladonice, which keeps goats and makes goat's milk products. Similar work, but in a completely different setting, is done at Farma pri močiari, located in the hamlet of Horné Valy in Lakšárska Nová Ves. The farmers here believe there is nothing more beautiful than shaping the landscape around them. It was grazing goats that helped them deal with invasive plants on a rare sand dune. Another family business is the Prazrnko farm, which grows emmer, the ancient ancestor of today's wheat, in fields around the village of Košariská. Rounding off the eight award winners is the Černuška flower farm from Bošáca. It shows that flowers can be grown locally too, without spraying and, above all, with love.
Despite their inspiring stories, all the award-winning farmers mentioned above struggle to hold their own against conventional agriculture. What keeps them going on the path they have chosen is, above all, a strong motivation rooted in the conviction that they are doing something truly important for nature, for their local area and for society.
