Committee Member
Lars Olav Stavnes
Top 50 Farmers is an acceleration platform paving the way for regenerative agriculture to be scaled from soil to gut. We identify the farmers who are role modeling what the future of farming looks like and share their stories. We also connect them with industry executives and pioneering thought leaders to unlock new opportunities across the value chain.
An inaugural Top 50 Farmer, Lars Olav Stavnes runs the Norwegian farm Reppe Søndre with his wife, Marie. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Trondheim, the farm reconnects urban residents with their local food supply.
The sixth generation to cultivate the land, farmed since 1661, Lars Olav and Marie successfully transitioned the family farm from a conventional monoculture to organic and then regenerative production.
Before taking over the farm, Lars Olav trained as an electrical engineer and spent ten years in the Norwegian Armed Forces, working on submarines. When he assumed responsibility for Reppe Søndre, he became increasingly interested in regenerative farming, driven by concerns about soil degradation, a desire to farm full-time, and growing curiosity from CSA customers about their agricultural practices.
Today, Reppe Søndre is a vibrant center for food, community, and social impact. Operating as a cooperative, the farm hosts multiple enterprises, including a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, a school garden, a cut-flower business, a farm shop, an event space, and heritage grain and flour production from its own mill. The farm also rents land and facilities to the Norwegian integration and environmental organization Deep Roots, which runs a market garden and café on-site.
As part of the Selection Committee, Lars Olav brings both his regenerative farming expertise and firsthand experience of what it means to be a Top 50 Farmer, including a deep understanding of the community’s values, opportunities, and potential. Lars Olav Stavnes | Reppe Søndre | Instagram
An inaugural Top 50 Farmer, Lars Olav Stavnes runs the Norwegian farm Reppe Søndre with his wife, Marie. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Trondheim, the farm reconnects urban residents with their local food supply.
The sixth generation to cultivate the land, farmed since 1661, Lars Olav and Marie successfully transitioned the family farm from a conventional monoculture to organic and then regenerative production.
Before taking over the farm, Lars Olav trained as an electrical engineer and spent ten years in the Norwegian Armed Forces, working on submarines. When he assumed responsibility for Reppe Søndre, he became increasingly interested in regenerative farming, driven by concerns about soil degradation, a desire to farm full-time, and growing curiosity from CSA customers about their agricultural practices.
Today, Reppe Søndre is a vibrant center for food, community, and social impact. Operating as a cooperative, the farm hosts multiple enterprises, including a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, a school garden, a cut-flower business, a farm shop, an event space, and heritage grain and flour production from its own mill. The farm also rents land and facilities to the Norwegian integration and environmental organization Deep Roots, which runs a market garden and café on-site.
As part of the Selection Committee, Lars Olav brings both his regenerative farming expertise and firsthand experience of what it means to be a Top 50 Farmer, including a deep understanding of the community’s values, opportunities, and potential. Lars Olav Stavnes | Reppe Søndre | Instagram
