Rediscover sheep farming: secure added value for nature and the region!

Rediscover sheep farming: secure added value for nature and the region!

On November 12, 2025, the first conference to communicate the added value of natural sheep farming took place at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) under the title “Mähwert meets Mährwert”. Around 70 participants, including both professional sheep farmers and hobby businesses, met to discuss the opportunities and challenges of sheep farming. The conference was organized in collaboration with the Professional Association for Organic Agriculture (FÖL) and the reffiSchaf project, which aims to promote exchange between different actors.

A greeting from Brandenburg's former Agriculture Minister Axel Vogel kicked off the event, pointing out the resumption of the ewe premium. Interesting specialist contributions from consumer research, including from the University of Göttingen, also ensured an attentive audience. The focus was on topics such as the marketing of sheep meat and wool as well as consumers' perception of sheep farming.

Workshop and practical examples

The subsequent specialist program, which included various practical impulses, was particularly exciting. The participants received insights into successful marketing strategies, including the example of “Weidewonne”. Diana Bachmann from the Bärwolf organic farm and Luca Kloss from the Kleine Schäferei Biesenbrow reported on effective methods for marketing sheep meat, while Patricia Sachau from the Lykke Sheepfarm and Ute Luft from vauno & elbwolle highlighted the possibilities of sheep wool marketing.

The workshops this afternoon provided space for collegial advice, the development of social media strategies and an inventory of the current sheep farming situation. Many people present expressed the desire to establish this event format again next year in order to further promote exchange and networking. A key outcome of the conference was the need to build local networks and find creative communication solutions.

Sustainable sheep farming in focus

Sheep farming not only plays an important role in food production, but is also an important part of sustainable agriculture. Sheep act as natural landscape stewards, helping to maintain green spaces and promote biodiversity. They also improve soil quality through their dung and support biodiversity through selective feeding. This is particularly important at a time when agricultural land is becoming increasingly scarce.

The environmental aspects of sheep farming were also addressed during the conference. Sheep pastures contribute to the climate balance through extensive grazing and the preservation of characteristic biotopes. Innovative approaches such as precision livestock farming rely on modern technologies to optimize animal care and reduce methane emissions. This makes sheep farming a sustainable business element that combines ecological and economic advantages.

The conference ended with a clear appeal - the demand for an image campaign for the sheep. A culinary highlight such as sheep bratwurst can help to strengthen society's appreciation for sheep farming and communicate the positive aspects of natural farming. Barnim Current reports that all presentations and materials from the conference are available on the project's website, so that those interested who were unable to attend can also read the valuable content.

The future of sheep farming seems promising, but it requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to recognize and exploit both the environmental and economic benefits. As the conference showed, there is a great opportunity for agriculture and society.