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In a move to preserve genetic resources for future generations and promote climate-resistant agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced a special promotion in 2023 for farmers growing old or rare grain varieties. The promotion offers an annual subsidy of 120 euros per hectare.
The initiative is not limited to grains but also includes historical potato varieties and field crops. Over the years, around 1,000 grain varieties of various origins have been tested by the Association for the Preservation and Re-cultivation of Useful Plants (VERN), and around 100 historical varieties are now available for distribution to farmers.
Among the most common old grain varieties grown by farmers in Saxony, supported by state funding, are Gelbweizen (yellow wheat), Champagnerroggen (champagne rye), and Waldstaudenroggen (forest rye). These historic grains are favored for their resilience on poor soils, nutritional benefits, and their role in niche artisanal baking markets.
Markus Hertel, a baker from Mildenau, uses Waldstauden rye to create a whole grain roll and won the "So schmeckt Kulturregion" competition for the 2025 European Capital of Culture. Axel Heinze, a Bioland farmer from Oschatz, grows yellow wheat, an old variety that contains carotenoids, on about 5 to 8 hectares of his fields.
Old grain varieties such as champagne and forest rye, and yellow wheat, are being used by the Rolle Mill to produce unique flours. The Rolle Mill, run by Anne Rolle-Baldauf and her brother Frank, produces organic flour and specializes in old grain varieties. Their focus on old grain varieties is to differentiate their products from those produced by large operations.
Old grain varieties require less fertilizer and plant protection, contributing to the protection and preservation of biodiversity in the agricultural landscape. This aspect, along with tradition, diversity, nutritional benefits, unique taste, exclusivity, naturalness, resistance to diseases, and sustainable production, are some of the reasons for using old grain varieties, as highlighted by Markus Hertel.
The promotion has seen a steady increase in participation since its inception. In 2023, 10 operations with an area of 431 hectares benefited from the promotion, and in the previous year, it was 15 operations with 460 hectares. Members of VERN, around 150 farmers in Germany and neighboring countries, work to maintain and preserve the respective varieties on their farms.
The comeback of old grain varieties offers regional marketers the opportunity to compete with special products in the face of retail competition. As these grains continue to prove themselves under modern cultivation conditions, they are set to play a significant role in the future of sustainable and climate-resistant agriculture in Germany and beyond.
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