International Farming For Nature network
There are biodiversity ambassadors not only in Austria, but also in Northern Ireland, Lithuania and Ireland, the “birthplace” of the Farming For Nature idea. Croatia is also working intensively to establish a Farming For Nature network. Brendan Dunford, the initiator of the Farming for Nature idea in his home country of Ireland, had the vision of a Europe-wide network of biodiversity ambassadors from the very beginning. This would make sustainable, innovative methods in agriculture accessible to an even wider public. At the same time, it promotes and strengthens international exchange between the ambassadors.
As part of this Europe-wide network, selected Austrian Farming For Nature farmers have international partners, the so-called Buddies. The main focus of the buddy farms is usually very similar, as are the challenges they face in their commitment to biodiversity. The buddies can exchange ideas with like-minded people, thereby encouraging each other and gaining inspiring insights into farms outside their home country.
Would you like to take a look beyond Austria's borders? Are you interested in how farmers across Europe are working to promote biodiversity? What differences, but also what parallels there are with Austria? Then take advantage of our online kitchen table talks and get to know the Irish and Lithuanian buddies of our Austrian FFN farmers! You can find more information here.
International buddies of the Farming For Nature farmers

Ailbhe Gerrard (IRELAND)
Buddy of: Angelina Pucher
Ailbhe runs a 30 ha farm on the shores of Lough Derg. She bought the land in 2010, taking on the challenge of turning a neglected farm into a place of diversity to earn a living. Today, a third of the farm is grassland, a third arable and a third conservation land with a focus on wild bird conservation. Ailbhe has an organic flock of sheep and honeybees and sells products both directly from the farm and online. Ailbhe likes to share her passion for farming with others, for example by organizing regular open days or guided tours with different themes. She teaches at Gurteen Agricultural College.
More info on Ailbhe: FFN-Ireland, Brookfield Farm

Andrew Bergin (IRELAND)
Buddy of: Johannes Zauner
Andrew Bergin cultivates 320 hectares of arable land. He has been practicing no-till farming for many years and cultivates the soil in a way that promotes a high level of biological benefit. His aim is to improve soil structure, microflora and insect populations in the soil. Andrew practices integrated pest management to minimize the use of insecticides - no insecticides have been used in the last 5 years. Pollinator strips 6 to 10 meters wide, which attract a variety of insects and birds, are located along most of the edges of his arable fields. In addition, trees such as oak, beech, birch, hazelnut, etc. have been planted on the edges of fields and on areas that are difficult to cultivate for arable farming. A variety of hedges are also cultivated to promote nature.
More info on Andrew: FFN-Ireland

Michael Keegan (IRELAND)
Buddy of: Jakob Mayer
Michael Keegan is a sheep farmer near Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. He farms around 50 ha of land and keeps more than 250 Easycare sheep. Michael is also one of the farm managers of Luggala Estate in County Wicklow. The 5,000 ha estate was purchased by Luggala Estate Ltd in 2019 and Michael is involved in the implementation of a major restoration project on the estate's working land. The Luggala Estate is a mixture of raised bog, dry heath, acid grassland, meadows, mixed woodland, some of which is native, and some conifer plantations. Actions to date include mowing heather for the benefit of black grouse and other species, repairing and restoring the traditional dry stone walls on the estate, collecting seeds of native trees and shrubs to propagate and restore woodland on the land.
More info on Michael: FFN-Ireland

Nerijus Sukackas (LITHUANIA)
Buddy of: Alexander Steindl
After spending a year abroad, Nerijus and his wife Agné returned to their hometown and focused entirely on farming. Initially, they only kept a few sheep, which acted as natural lawnmowers to keep the grass around their house short, but they soon converted their entire farm to animal husbandry. In addition to sheep farming, they also breed Limousin cattle. It was not only the love of animals, but also environmental considerations that were crucial for Nerijus in making this decision. For Nerijus, cattle and sheep are natural tools to improve habitats for other wildlife, such as birds and insects. He has also observed these positive effects of grazing on nature on his own meadows, where lapwings and many other bird species breed.
More info on Nerijus: FFN-Lithuania

Niels Peter Pretzman (LITHUANIA)
Buddy of: Otto Knaus
Niels Peter Pretzman's farm covers 700 ha. On his organic farm, Farmer's Circle, Niels keeps Angus cattle and chickens. He also grows cereals and various vegetables. Vegetables are processed directly on the farm and the products are sold in the stores of Senators' Passage, which Niels founded in Vilnius' Old Town. Not only products from Farmer's Circle are sold there, but also from other organic farms in the region. The Senator's Passage in Vilnius is an example of shortening the food chain. The products come directly from the farms to the various stores, without middlemen.
More info on Niels: FFN-Lithuania, Senators’ Passage, Farmers Circle

Rasa AND Andrius Prusakovai (LITHUANIA)
Buddy of: Armin Rauch
For Rasa and Andrius, the quality of their food has always been very important. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to buy high-quality, sustainably grown food. This was the starting signal for their own agricultural activities: they grew vegetables and kept chickens and ducks for their own consumption. They soon decided to sell their own products: On their 40-ha organic farm, they grow a variety of vegetables and breed chickens, turkeys and highland cows. Their motivation for the often time-consuming, manual harvesting work comes primarily from the joy of being able to offer conscious buyers healthy and sustainably grown food, which they sell online, at markets or directly from the farm. In the future, they would also like to create rural tourism and education opportunities for people, especially children.
More info on Rasa and Andrius: FFN-Lithuania