Niall Richardson

Isabella Hof is a pioneering organic onion farmer in the Netherlands, taking over the farm from her father, who paved a path at a time when the market for organic was lacking.

‍

Now, they have two businesses: their farm and an onion-sorting company. The main crops on their 200-hectare farm include onions, seed onions and flax, and they also grow wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes and grass seeds. The onions they grow and purchase are exported and sold to consumers through retail outlets in the Netherlands.

‍

Due to the pressure of chemicals on the soil and climate, they have seen yields decline and weeds, diseases and pests increase for years, both on their farm and those of their growers. Because of these concerns, Isabella started taking courses at De Oorsprong and Agrosymbio and has begun experimenting with regenerative practices. Isabella is passionate about building healthier soil, products and business, and involving their growers along the way.

Joost de Willebois is the founder and owner of Domaine J. de Villebois, a family-run winery in France's Loire Valley.
‍

Originally from the Netherlands, Joost descends from a French lineage dating back to 1180. In 2004, he and his wife, Miguela, acquired a 10-hectare vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Cher, marking the beginning of their winemaking journey.

They focused on producing Sauvignon Blanc, aiming to become specialists in this varietal within the Loire region. Over the years, the domaine expanded its reach across key appellations like Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Menetou-Salon.
‍
Joost transitioned from a career in finance to dedicate himself fully to winemaking, emphasizing sustainable practices. Today, Domaine J. de Villebois is recognized for its high-quality Sauvignon Blancs and commitment to environmental management.

‍

Paul Polska is a forward-thinking agricultural enterprise based in Jarosławiec, near Środa Wielkopolska, Poland.

Operating on a large scale, the farm combines advanced technology with sustainable practices across both its dairy and crop production systems. The farm uses precision agriculture techniques to optimize crop performance and sustainability. Paul Polska's farm manages around 1,200 dairy cows within a total of 2,800 animals.
‍

Leveraging Nedap CowControl and SmartSort systems, the farm monitors health, reproduction, and cow behavior in real-time. This enables:

- Precision heat detection

- Targeted veterinary care

- Reduced hormone use

- Higher conception rates

- Lower labor costs and improved animal welfare
‍

Paul Polska specialises in the production of sugar beets, wheat, rapeseed, and cultivates triticale, grain corn, silage corn, and alfalfa to maintain full control over the nutritional quality of feed for their dairy herd.