A conversation with Sebastiaan Huisman, large-scale organic farmer and advisor, about consulting on many large farm transitions, including the British royal family and working with Wildfarmed. Why is he so optimistic about biodynamic, holistic, and regenerative farming, and why does it all start with children?
Picking apples on an biodynamic farm at age 12 led to setting up one of the largest biodynamic farms in Europe, almost 2000 hectares in Poland, on very very poor soil, Sebastian had an incredible journey from that Dutch farm to the creation of one of Europe’s largest biodynamic farms. As he shares his story, we’ll uncover the transformative impact of regenerative agriculture, not just on the soil but also on the very heart of the community.
LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION ON:
WHY IS THE TRANSITION HAPPENING SO SLOWLY? FARMERS SUFFER SLOWLY
Sebastiaan argues that farmers struggle with changing methods due to high costs and resistance from industry.
”It’s all about risks […] people are afraid to make a change. Also, if they know that the system they’re doing now is not optimal for earth, people, and health, and maybe not for the money side, but they go on; farmers die really slowly. Because they have a lot of capital. So, they will not buy a new tractor for 10 years, and after 10 years, they realise that machinery doesn’t work that well anymore. And then they start selling, maybe a bit, but they are dying very slowly. And of course, there’s a lot of lobbying against a transition because all the fossil industry, chemical industry, and food industry all they want is to sell as much as possible, and they want to have the food as cheap as possible to sell it for the highest price after they purchase it in a bad way.” – Sebastiaan Huisman
WE NEED TO SCALE REGENERATIVE HOLISTIC AGRICULTURE FAST
Sebastiaan emphasises the importance of scaling up organic farming practices to address environmental concerns.
”We have to be much much quicker. […] I think we have to scale up; we have to be much faster. What I don’t like, maybe, and I think we will work on that, is that they cannot spray; that’s one thing, but they can use some fertilizer. I’m sure if we make good compost and good crop rotations, they are quite good at it […]. So, you don’t need so many cows, but you need a few, and you need your compost teas and your compost extracts, but you also need a good crop rotation and a bit of luck, and then you don’t need any fertilizer. I hope the true cost of fertiliser comes to light, and it starts now because the energy price was rising because of a terrible war, of course, but my hope is that the true cost comes to light and it does not make economic sense to use synthetic fertilisers anymore.” – Sebastiaan Huisman
HOLISTIC FARMING MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. YOU DON’T NEED EXPENSIVE INPUTS FROM THE AGRO-INDUSTRY ANYMORE, ONLY IN THE TRANSITION
There’s the need for a more holistic approach to farming. It’s crucial as to address risks and invest in living systems.
”I am an organic farmer. I will never do anything else. I know I don’t need any industry at all. Maybe only at the beginning of a farm to bring the soil back to life, because if you see conventional soils like, say, somebody who used a lot of drugs and ate a lot of sugar, And I have to bring the soil away from the sugar and give them a bit wilder farm, good breath, and bring it into my crops, which you cannot do with only, let’s say, homoeopathic medicine. I don’t believe in that. So, we first have to really try to bring the micro elements into it. You need to rebuild soil fertility because it is an ill body. It’s the same as somebody in intensive care. You cannot give them only homoeopathic medicine; I think it’s good to do it. But maybe he or she also needs something else. So that’s the only thing where I need the industry. And afterwards, I don’t need them at all. So that’s great. So, it’s the next freedom for the farmers.” – Sebastiaan Huisman
EDUCATION IS KEY. YOUNG FARMERS ARE BEING BRAINWASHED BY AG UNIVERSITIES
Sebastiaan advocates for an education reform, including school gardens and universities prioritising independent research.
”Children, starting with food, starting with cooking, starting each school to have their own garden, that kids start to build consciousness for soil, for a living organism, because that’s one of the problems. I see that kids get more and more lost in a system but maybe don’t help them to grow in a normal, healthy way.” – Sebastiaan Huisman
”I think we need good universities. My dream is that all companies have to give 2, 3, or 4% of their profits away in an anonymous way, without naming it, for, let’s say, independent universities and school systems and scientists, because all the scientists are paid by the industry, so they do what the industry wants. So, I think that’s quite an important thing. Because there’s brainwashing going on, not in all universities; of course, there are a lot of good ones. But somehow the industry tries to be involved in that system because they want new customers to buy their products. And then I would really free up lands, make young farmers, young people have the possibility to start new models…” – Sebastiaan Huisman
OTHER POINTS DISCUSSED
Koen and Sebastiaan also talked about:
- Excitement for the growth of regenerative agriculture
- The importance of valuing common goods in organic farming
- The importance of having a great team for success
LINKS:
- Sebastiaan Huisman’s bio
- Hipp
- Wildfarmed
- Piet van Ijzendoorn
- Sepp Holzer
- Global Farm Metrics
- Farm in Poland
LINKED INTERVIEWS:
- Stijn Markusse – Raising €4M in 72 hours to scale boring distribution and storytelling
- Henry Rowlands – Listening the world’s soil heart beat cheaply, audibly, in real time
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The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.