A Teenage Dream

Growing up on his family farm, Emilien Rottiers developed a deep passion for agriculture early. As a teenager, he began working on other farms and by 27, he had accumulated more practical farming experience than many twice his age.

His breakthrough came at Domaine de Graux. Located in Tournai, Belgium, Domaine de Graux sits on 120 hectares with a history stretching back to 1492. In 1873, the Simon family bought the land, stewarding it over generations.

Emilien started working at Domaine de Graux under Elisabeth Simon's stewardship and together, they transformed the estate from a conventional operation into an organic and regenerative model. In 2022, ownership passed to Els Thermote, who purchased Domaine de Graux through her family office, The Nest, which focuses on providing philanthropic support and making investments that create a resilient food system within the planetary boundaries of the Earth.

Through the transition, Emilien has stayed on as Crop Manager providing valuable insights and experience. Today, Domaine de Graux has become an agroecological hub for individuals to connect with nature and the complex web of life.

A Farm With Multiple Dimensions

Domaine De Graux operates with a business-minded approach where different business units of the farm are expected to be, or eventually become, profitable. The model is based on a polyculture with a market garden, orchards, and livestock integrated with crop production. Some areas of the farm prioritize ecological value, emphasizing positive externalities such as increased biodiversity.

The practices of the farm are also designed to be cyclical. For example, the rye harvested will provide grain for flour and forage for cattle. Under managed grazing on the cropland, the cattle will return carbon and nutrients, as manure, back into the soil.

Emilien has been in charge of the crop management at Domaine De Graux since 2017. Over the past 8 years, he has experienced many tests, trials, some failures and great successes linked to agroecology. “Our soils are showing greater resilience to environmental stress,” he explains. “One of these practices is a 10-year crop rotation with maximum three tillage events where small parcels of 2.5 hectares are carefully managed for crop diversification.”

Building the Future

Domaine de Graux operates on three pillars: food production, awareness and community building, and research and innovation. These days, the farm is focused on becoming a hub for reconnecting with nature and learning how food can be produced in harmony with the environment, especially when it comes to children.

“Our team is passionate about engaging our youngest consumers and future farmers. We believe it’s essential for children to understand where their food comes from, how vegetables are grown, and to develop a meaningful connection to the food system.” Emilien shares.

In this way, Domaine de Graux shows how harmony between agriculture, ecology, and people can influence the future. For Emilien and the team at Domaine de Graux, taking care of mother Earth, and inspiring others to do the same, is what farming is all about.