Agricultural boundary markers promoting eco-friendly farming practices

The Bio-Model Region Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, an initiative carried by the Neckar-Odenwald district, Bauernverband Neckar Odenwald-Kreis e.V., and Kreisverband Neckar-Odenwald of the Gemeindetag Baden-Württemberg, is making strides in promoting environmental and nature conservation efforts. This regional model, active since 2019, covers the entire area of the Neckar-Odenwald district, including all 27 cities and municipalities.

The steering circle of the Bio-Model Region includes representatives from various sectors, including agriculture, food craftsmanship, and marketing. The regional manager, Ruth Weniger, based at the Landratsamt Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, oversees the activities.

Recently, new field edge signs have been introduced to document and promote farmers' efforts in these areas. Farmers such as Philipp Sack and Michael and Tobias Schiffmann are using these signs to expand biological plant protection on their farms. For instance, Philipp Sack is using trichogramma wasps to combat the maize borer, a common pest on his farm.

These signs cover a wide range of topics, including organic farming, reduction of chemical-synthetic plant protection agents, and greening of arable land. They also provide immediate information about specific projects on site.

The Bio-Model Region Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis handles various topics and projects, including agricultural production, education and awareness, marketing, agriculture, and nature conservation. On-farm slaughtering (kLasSE Fleisch) is one of the topics they focus on.

Farmers can register with their local agricultural authority to obtain these free field edge signs. The initiative also organises cooking workshops, Bio-Brotboxes for school starters, Bio-Markttag, Regionales Bio im Einzelhandel, BIO Markt Scheune, and Odenwald GenussTaschen.

Minister of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection Peter Hauk presented these new field edge signs to promote transparency in agricultural funding. The current funding period of the Bio-Model Region Neckar-Odenwald ends on June 30, 2028, with activities planned to continue until then.

The Bio-Model Region Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis can be contacted through the Press Office, Citizen's Representative, or a contact form on their website. This regional initiative is a testament to the commitment of local institutions, academic partners, and biological research organisations towards sustainable farming and conservation efforts. These measures contribute to maintaining biodiversity, protecting the soil, improving air and water quality, and combating climate change.