Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year Award 2025
Launched in 2009, the WWF Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year Award highlights best practices and recognizes farmers who are leading efforts to reduce nutrient runoff and protect the Baltic Sea. So far, around 80 farmers have been awarded for their innovative and sustainable approaches.
This year farmers from Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Poland and Sweden participated, and CCB was among the national Polish jury - represented by Maria Staniszewska, President of the CCB Member Organisation Polish Ecological Club, Gliwice branch.
Beyond the competition, winners serve as ambassadors for sustainable farming, sharing their experiences to inspire others. Their efforts contribute to reducing eutrophication, improving soil and water health, and promoting biodiversity – key steps toward a healthier Baltic Sea.
In 2025, Beata and Robert Janowski’s farm Farm pod Kasztanem or ‘Under the Chestnut Tree Farm’ in eastern Poland has been named Poland’s WWF Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year for its outstanding integration of organic dairy farming with nature-based solutions. The farm was selected by the national jury for its exemplary environmental stewardship, biodiversity support, and closed-loop production system.
Jury motivation
"The Janowski’s take a holistic and deeply rooted approach to sustainable farming. Their practices demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting the Baltic Sea and surrounding ecosystems, transforming their family farm into a model of circular, organic agriculture. With visible biodiversity gains and active collaboration in research and education, they are setting a powerful example of how environmentally conscious farming can be both profitable and regenerative."
Beyond production, the Janowski’s are active educators and collaborators. They are part of Poland’s National Network of Demonstration Farms, which aims to provide and promote the best examples of agricultural practices in the country. Additionally, they have conducted research with the University of Life Sciences in Lublin on herbal mixtures in cow feed, and in 2022, they received the Ministry of Agriculture’s award for Best Organic Farm in Poland.
Their farm exemplifies how thoughtful manure management and nature-based practices can transform agriculture into a driver of biodiversity and climate resilience. "We encourage other farms to embrace organic and to protect our natural environment, because we too are part of nature. Just as we take care of ourselves, we should also take care of climate, animals, and nature. We love educating from a very young age, and we encourage kindergarteners and students to take eco-friendly actions that contribute to a better state of waters and nature", commented Beata and Robert Janowski.
The national winners receive a prize of €1,000. From these, an international jury chooses one regional winner, awarded €10,000 and the title of WWF Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year.
During the award event held in Hanover, Germany, in November, Swedish dairy farmers Mathias, Henrik, and Gabriel Jonsson from Västervik have been awarded the regional WWF Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year Award 2025, recognizing them as the most innovative and environmentally impactful farmers across the five Baltic participating countries.
For more information, visit:wwfbalticfarmer.org
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