From academia to reality

Like many farmers today, Adrian took over the land from his family. His path in doing so, however, is anything  but ordinary. Although he is now teaching and sharing his knowledge with other farmers, Adrian began his farming life as an interested student. “During my studies in environmental engineering, I became deeply interested in soil biology,” he recalls. “As I continued researching, I came across the term regenerative farming long before it was known in the DACH region.” When some of the first courses in regenerative agriculture began to appear in the area, Adrian enrolled. “The more I learned, the more fascinated I became by the connection between soil health, animal health, and human health, and by the complex microbiology that links them all.”

It wasn’t long before the student became the teacher in Adrian’s case. By the time he took over his family’s farm, he was already teaching courses in soil microbiology, soil microscopy, and permaculture. With his education and knowledge, Adrian found the reality of taking over to be different than expected, however. “Even after visiting many regenerative farms, taking numerous courses, and reading books, actually implementing changes on my own farm was difficult,” he recounts. He has spent the last five years taking on the challenge of regenerating his family’s farm, hybridizing technical science with ecological care.

Multi-faceted innovation and inspiration

Halterhus is a multi-generational, 18-hectare, certified organic farm located near Lucerne, Switzerland, with 100% of the land under regenerative management. His primary foci are producing cereal grains, growing hazelnuts, and raising suckler cattle.

Although his production is small, his technical education becomes evident through his practices and habits. He is deeply interested in the potential and efficacy of compost tea, even providing consultation and advice to other regenerative farms in the area via his company Edapro. “Compost tea appears to be a promising way to promote plant health with a high diversity of beneficial soil microorganisms,” he explains. In addition to making and selling compost teas for other farmers, Adrian also produces the machinery to help other farms create their own compost teas.

Since taking over the farm, Adrian has introduced mob grazing techniques with his cattle and even conducts soil testing and biodiversity counts on his land. Since he began his intervention on the farm five years ago, the land has seen improved soil structure and organic matter, higher biodiversity of plants, and improved pasture quality. These great steps forward do not come without their difficulties. Just like trying to prove a hypothesis in a scientific experiment, Adrian has gone through much trial and error, experimental phases, and conducted testing to help him understand his family’s land and the work he can do. “Each year brings a steep learning curve — how much I can reduce tillage on compacted soil, which cover crop mixtures perform well, and how to manage weeds.” He is consistently adapting to the environment before him.

What community can mean in the future

Adrian sees Halterhus as more than just a productive and healthy farm, but as a possible location for an alternative lifestyle. “I believe that future work models will move toward more flexible concepts, combining living and working in the same place.” This could mean more farm-to-table experiences and creating jobs locally. “Our farm is located in a beautiful natural setting that is close to a village, schools, shops, and the city of Lucerne. There are two houses on the property with three apartments, offering space for people who might want to live and work on the farm” he explains.

His community goals manifest through his agricultural work. This is not just about his personal legacy or even his family’s legacy within the immediate vicinity of their land. “Every tree I plant, every hedge I establish, and every herb, grass, or legume I introduce on my pastures is part of a larger goal: to restore biodiversity, provide habitats for rare birds, and make the land resilient for future generations to produce nutrient-dense food that you can taste the difference.” His land, work, and role as a farmer is part of a larger picture in Adrian’s mind, considering the Earth his community as well.

This consideration of community extends outside of the physical and into the virtual as well. Adrian wants to be part of the growth of the Top 50 Farmers network, exchanging knowledge with like-minded individuals in this realm of work. He wants to understand other farmers’ mistakes and setbacks, but also what actually worked. “For me, the online community is a central aspect in the further development of my ideas and practices,” he explains. “For me, it is the spirit of the times that social media helps quickly disseminate practical measures, learning from the mistakes of others, and ensuring open, honest interaction with each other.”

Sharing is caring, they say, and for Adrian this comes in the form of dissemination of information. With his academic background and his deep technical knowledge, it comes as no surprise that he is already part of an expert team that provides courses and Q&A sessions through Regenerative.ch. He also teaches about compost tea, microscopy, composting, and leaf sap analysis in addition to other expert appearances at agriculture schools. “I can draw a lot of strength and inspiration from the community and would like to do my part in bringing ideas and experiences to the community,” he shares.

Aspirations in times of unpredictability

Adrian’s vision for his farm is direct and clear. “My main focus is to produce healthy, affordable food while promoting biodiversity through efficient environmental system design,” he shares. In his case, however, this is not a straightforward path but rather a dynamic, integrated vision that he proudly details.

Adrian has both goals and vision for his farm. Some of his farming goals look like improved soil retention, a 10-year plan for a full productive hazelnut harvest, and increased introduction of other crops. His vision, however, expands beyond what is just planted or cared for in terms of hands-in-the-soil, boots-on-the-ground tasks and activities. “I want my farm to be energy self-sufficient,” he declares. “It’s already 85% powered by solar energy and battery storage. Eventually I would like it to be powered by an electric tractor that reduces diesel use.” This solar energy, covering the roofs of his farm’s structures and absorbing the bright Swiss sun, would power his work vehicles like cars and tractors, and potentially even power future acquired machinery for production and transformation of his agricultural production.

Unused building space on his farm from raising pigs gives Adrian the idea to create a food-processing facility and a biofertilizer production space. For him, innovation on the farm is not strictly about what is happening in the fields but also what advancements can be made beyond the soil. “As automation becomes more affordable, smaller food processing units may also become economically viable and competitive with large-scale facilities,” he explains. This can result in the processing of cereal grains, hazelnuts, and beef as well as transforming food and forage into products like dried fruits and biofertilizer, expanding his farm’s potential. Just as with crop rotation, soil testing, and planting trials, Adrian is always looking for a new experiment, project, or potential solution, ever the scientist.

Adrian’s approach to farming is atypical - deeply science-backed and technically-informed, approaching innovation and trying things not done before in the area, and focusing on realistic goals and manageable realities - with a touch of humility, of course. “Having a clear vision is important, but I also prefer to work with nature and take opportunities when they appear.” While he maintains his goals and visions for his family’s land, Adrian is no fool. “Nature remains unpredictable,” he wisely reflects.

Written by Top 50 Farmers and Kiva Victoria