Palanta Biofarm opens in Hungary
An organic farm is coming up!
A Nhood Hungary collaboratio
Reading time 10 min.
The climate, health, and diplomatic crises we are experiencing show us every day how important it is to rethink our models. Like many people, we would like to move towards a more sustainable future. But above all, we believe that it depends on us: we can’t create value without having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact for the territories and their inhabitants; this is what we call the “triple positive impact”. And we always share this vision with our clients.
The Palanta organic farm project, launched in Hungary for our client Ceetrus, is a great example: a site in the Auchan retail park that has undergone a complete makeover and rehabilitation!
On the one hand, a farm where organic fruit and vegetables are grown and supplied through short channels. On the other hand, an educational garden to interest and educate neighbours regarding the basics of urban agriculture.
‘We plan to create a long-term asset with the organic farm, where the 3Ps (People, Planet, Profit), which are of utmost importance to us, are properly implemented, since this project triggers positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes at the same time.’
An organic farm for better production
About 45 tonnes of organic vegetables will be grown every year on this approximately 1.3 hectare organic farm, with the participation of expert partners. Cultivation is carried out using regenerative farming methods, combining greenhouse and outdoor production. Lettuce, rocket, carrots, beetroot, radishes… All vegetables will be grown using sustainable methods.
No synthetic fertilisers or pesticides such as herbicides or insecticides are used to grow the plants. Instead, biofertilisers and natural materials preserve the health of the vegetables grown as well as the health of consumers, soil, and biodiversity.
Promotiong short channels...
Yes, these 45 tonnes of organic fruit and vegetables will be supplied in the region. We made an agreement with Auchan Hungary, which is committed to providing consumers with top of the range and affordable organic products. The products will be sold under the Palánta Biofarm brand. With eco-friendly packaging, consumers will also be able to find some of the products in Auchan’s Farmer to Table (Gazdától asztalig) range: Palánta mix, organic vegetable mix, sprout mix, rocket, and organic salad mix.
And changing attitudes
We believe it is important to lead by example for future generations by introducing them to organic farming. It is an opportunity to raise awareness on the benefits of a healthy and balanced diet, by highlighting seasonal products.
Indeed, children who know how vegetables end up on our table are more likely to eat them. That is why, as part of the educational programme planned for the autumn in the educational garden, we are organising the reception of kindergarten and elementary school pupils as well as families, so that visitors can learn about healthy eating and micro-cultivation, which saves water and energy.
The educational garden will be divided into three areas:
- The ‘three-hour garden’, which shows how to grow vegetables for a whole family for a year with only three hours of gardening per week.
- The compost bin, which shows 3 composting methods.
- The perennial organic garden, where the planting and maintenance of wild flowers and fruit trees will be shown to protect biodiversity.
Etienne Dupuy, Managing Director of Foncière Ceetrus, Pascal Steens, Managing Director of Nhood Hungary, Balázs Gábosy, Director of Business Development, Sales, and Operations of Nhood Hungary, and Dóra Szemerédi Diána, Head of CSR and Internal Communications, recently visited the farm together and saw how things are processed.
