Bavaria’s best organic product grows in a field near Putzbrunn: the lenses of the “Our Land” network. The organic farmer Alois Daberger grows the lentils on one of his fields in what is known as mixed fruit cultivation. This is a traditional, sustainable cultivation method in which different crops are sown in the field at the same time. Lentils need a support fruit on which they can climb up. Daberger uses oats for this.
Both types of plants – lentils and oats – benefit from each other. This improves the soil quality, regulates the weeds in a natural way and ensures a higher biodiversity of the insects. However, the cultivation method is also more complex. The time of sowing and harvesting must be optimally coordinated; usually both plants are harvested at the same time in August. The farmers then have to separate them from one another using a special sorting system.
Which farmer has to put in the effort to grow the legumes changes every year. Because lentils can only thrive in the same field every five to seven years. That is why the producers rotate at “Our Country”. In principle, the lenses are quite undemanding. They grow particularly well in poor soil and cope well with drought. A problem that farmers in Germany have to deal with more and more often and more intensively.
The farmers of “Unser Land” have been growing lentils since 2018. Daberger for the repeated time. His other crops also benefit from this. The roots of the lentils bind nitrogen from the air. It stays in the soil after harvest and works as fertilizer for the plants that are grown after the lentils. The lens is not only healthy for people, but also helps the soil and the region. Lentils and other pulses therefore play an important role in organic farming.
The award as Bavaria’s best organic product proves that the effort and care in cultivation is worthwhile. The regional association for organic farming in Bavaria (LVÖ Bayern) has been organizing the competition since 2012 in order to reward and support the high quality and commitment of Bavarian organic entrepreneurs. To qualify for the competition, two thirds of the ingredients must come from Bavarian production. A specialist jury evaluates the taste and appearance of the end products. The assessment also includes how the producers are committed to the environment, animal welfare and social issues.
“Our Land” started experimenting regionally with peas, soy and lentils as early as 2010, together with farmers like Alois Daberger, who were open to innovative cultivation methods. Richard Mickasch from the solidarity community “München Land” helped bring the project to life. He says: “Our motto is ‘from the region – for the region’. The lens project is a wonderful example of this: good for the soil, the climate and people.” Incidentally, lentils are particularly rich in protein and high in carbohydrates.