EU Organic Award

Best organic farmer: Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann

 

On September 23, the EU celebrates organic agriculture with the EU Organic Day. Launched in 2021, the EU Organic Day is a day to reward the exceptional efforts of those leading the way in organic agriculture with the EU Organic Awards. This year, 27 candidates from 11 EU countries were selected across 7 categories.

Best organic female farmer

Congratulations to Ms. Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann from Austria, who was awarded Best Organic Female Farmer for her pioneering work in organic and biodynamic breeding with her company ReinSaat GmbH. She started 40 years ago with a small biodynamic part-time farm and turned it into a global organic seed company.

The Demeter certified farm has a wide range of activities including livestock farming, vegetable growing and the production of its own seeds which became Reinhild Frech-Emmelmann’s vocation. She expanded her seed production and founded the company “ReinSaat” 25 years ago with just three hectares of arable land.

Organic and biodynamic breeding

Since 1998, ReinSaat is offering a selection of over 800 resilient GMO-free biodynamic and organic seed varieties, promoting biodiversity and sustainable farming by working towards diverse, locally adapted seed varieties. With a gene bank of 1,500 varieties and 142 EU-registered varieties, the farm employs over 50 people and collaborates with farms and cooperatives in 9 countries. ReinSaat is committed to strengthening the food system with premium organic and biodynamic products.

Today, the farm activities run over 30 hectares, including one hectare of greenhouses, where a wide variety of vegetable and herbal plants grow and are used both as fruit or herbs and for seed production. From the Korean perilla, a herb used in Asian cuisine, to numerous different types of vegetables, such as the black tomato called ‘black beauty’.

 

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the EU Organic Day Awards and thanks for leading the way towards a more regenerative and sustainable future with their commitment to organic and biodynamic farming!