Agriculture
Farm Network
The Farm Network - a BASF Partnership - delivers practical solutions to help farmers meet the future head on. While each partner brings different expertise to the table, we share a common passion, united in our commitment to foster sustainable farming.
Sustainable farming is exemplified with real progress through practice: productive agriculture needs a healthy environment. In parallel, a growing world population with evolving expectations needs farmers to produce more food. How can farmers increase production while at the same time protecting biodiversity, water and land resources? How can a farm be environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable?
Sustainable farming needs expertise, practical examples, and exchange of experiences
Sustainable farming has to be more than just a theory on paper; to come to life, it needs expertise, practical examples, and a space for farmers to exchange experiences. The BASF Farm Network, established in 2002, brings together growers and experts on more than 70 working farms around Europe to help farmers meet this challenge. In this context, BASF works with independent farmers, organizations for environmental protection, universities, research institutes, and companies providing farming innovations.
While it is true that farmers face similar challenges worldwide, a one size fits all approach does not work. Some solutions have to be tailored to meet local conditions, like climate and soil. That is precisely why BASF partners with local experts, who understand the issues on the ground. Our remit is clear: we want to make it easy for farmers to implement sustainable measures on the farm, increase their profits and yields while protecting and conserving biodiversity, water, soil and other precious resources.
Core Principles of the Farm Network
Think global - act local.
Every farm is different in terms of size, the local area, farming conditions, and crop diversity. Countries also have their own national priorities when it comes to sustainable farming, for example, there may be specific concerns about protected species, soil conditions, and access to water. With the Farm Network, we work locally – on the farm – to develop real-life measures that are relevant and meaningful to farmers in the area. In this way, we bring sustainability to life on both the local farm and on the global stage.
Our trials are practical and hands-on.
A farmer can test a sustainable practice in part of his farm before assessing whether it is viable to extend it to a larger area.
Seeing is believing.
Everyone is welcome to visit our Farm Network and witness first-hand the positive impact of sustainable agricultural practices. Each farm demonstrates in a practical way how modern farming systems can deliver high yields while protecting biodiversity and natural resources.
Measurement improves performance.
Independent experts evaluate the progress of each farm in the Farm Network. Data tracked includes the number of birds, pollinators, and other beneficial insects living on the farm. Water management measures and sustainable soil treatments are also carefully monitored.
The European Farm Network is a trailblazer
The Farm Network traces its roots to the UK where the first farm – Rawcliffe Bridge – was established in 2002. Since then, the program has evolved and expanded all over Europe. Today, the Farm Network includes many farms and a rich network of more than 30 partner organizations in eight countries.
I’m a businessman. I only spend money if I need to and if I get a benefit from doing so. So we balance the best practices of both worlds, looking after soil, looking after crops, making certain we produce very high standard food, year in, year out.
Our long-term goal is to see these successful measures and techniques embraced by new farms outside the existing network.
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Learn more about our sustainability commitments
