Baden-Württemberg Launches €12,000 Biodiversity Competition for Farms
Farms across three districts in Baden-Württemberg are being invited to take part in a new biodiversity competition. The 'Farms for Biodiversity' initiative, launched by the Regional Council of Freiburg, aims to reward agricultural businesses that balance productivity with nature conservation. A total of €12,000 in prize money will be shared among the winning entries.
The competition is open to farms managing arable land, grasslands, orchards, or vineyards. Previous award winners may also apply again. Organisers will evaluate entries on four key criteria: biodiversity levels on farmland, the use of nature-friendly farming methods, efforts to protect the landscape, and public engagement in environmental issues.
Applications for the 2025–2027 cycle are now being accepted. The deadline for submissions is set for April 1, 2024. Regional Council President Carsten Gabbert highlighted the competition's purpose—to showcase farms that successfully combine efficient food production with the preservation of local species diversity.
Farms in Rottweil, Emmendingen, and Ortenaukreis are eligible to participate. The initiative seeks to recognise practical examples where agriculture supports, rather than undermines, ecological health.
The selected farms will receive financial recognition and public acknowledgement for their conservation efforts. Winners will be announced after the evaluation period, with the prize fund distributed among those demonstrating the strongest commitment to biodiversity. The competition's results may also serve as a model for other regions looking to integrate farming and nature protection.
