PROJECT ON-FARM

TITLE OF THE CASE STUDY

Organic producers association for field crops

MAIN DATA OF THE COMPANY

Name of the Company

Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte

Country

Type of the Company

Farming Activity

Direct selling way

SELF – INTRODUCTION OF THE FARMER

The company is located in Lauterach, a municipality in Baden-Württemberg. In Lauterach lentils are grown and processed since 1985. In 2009, Lutz Mammel took over the "Alb-Leisa" branch of the business. Since 2014, this organic processing farm is called Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte. The company has employed four full-time employees and eight part-time employees. The farm is certified organic according to the guidelines of Bioland. The farm grows the following products itself: e.g. Alb-Leisa - lentils from the Swabian Alb, buckwheat, camelina oil, noodles, linseed, hemp seed and naked barley. Under the protected brand name Alb-Leisa, only organically grown lentils from the organic producers' association Alb-Leisa are sold by Lauteracher Alb-Feld-Früchte. The field crops are supplied by more than 140 organic farms, which grow the organic raw materials on approximately 500 hectares of arable land in the Swabian Alb region. The farm purchases additional products from other regional organic partners and farms. The marketing of the products takes place through different channels. Since 2014, there is a farm store directly on the farm. There is also an online store through which the products can be purchased. On the homepage there is a free offer of a large selection of recipes.

CHANGES / INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ADOPTED

● Founding of the Alb-Leisa eco-producers' association: the important goal of the foundation of the eco-producers' association is the economic efficiency of the lentil cultivation, thus permanent preservation on the Swabian Alb is possible.

● Possibility of propagation and cultivation of the old varieties of Alb lentils

● In addition, the diversity of crops in the area of cultivation is increased by the cultivation of buckwheat, camelina, linseed, millet and hemp.

WHY AND HOW YOU DECIDED TO INTRODUCE  STRATEGY CHANGES / INNOVATIONS

The cultivation of special crops such as lentils, buckwheat, etc. requires special knowledge and complex and expensive technology, especially in the processing operations. This is hardly affordable for a single farm. Therefore, these processes and expenses are borne by many farms in the producer group. This enables stable payout prices, above-average income contributions and a very good group dynamic in the community.

WHAT OBSTACLES DID YOU MEET

● Problems at member farms due to highly fluctuating yields and complicated cultivation methods.

● Strong dependence on weather influences, e.g., the rainy year 2021 caused a poor harvest.

● Necessary cultivation break for lentils (only every 6 years) reduces the availability of the product.

EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS

● Cultivation of lentils, buckwheat etc. is safer and more interesting in a producer group.

● High product and processing quality at Lauteracher-Alb Feld-Früchte secures and increases market share.

● Lentil cultivation increases biodiversity in the fields, creates awareness among growers (families) and consumers.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT AND WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR MIND

● Optimize on-farm organizational structures

● Inspire even more organic farms in the Swabian Alb to grow lentils.

● Add additional crops to the range in order to have further footholds and reduce cultivation risks.

FINAL SENTENCES

General Evaluation

Visionary approach to legume cultivation (since 1985) today meets the spirit of the times and the need for climate-smart agriculture. The cultivation of lentils, buckwheat strengthens biodiversity, ecology and economy of the farms involved. If the taste of the product and the quality of its processing are good, the consumer will accept a higher price.

Suggestions for other farmers

● Product and grower must be authentic.

● Cultivation and processing must be honest and transparent.

● If the consumer can recognize an added value (also an ecological one), he is also willing to pay a higher price for it.