Potatoes - Maximillian Hardegg, Austria
Operations
Since the late 1980s the farm has undertaken a number of environmental programmes, one being the large-scale construction of ditches across the farm, and another being the formation of wooded wetland areas. These were constructed to hold water; to enable the formation of wildlife habitats, and as a storage facility for irrigation water. The water enables crops to be planted and grown in areas which have traditionally suffered from drought over summer months. The farm can reduce flooding by holding back peak water flows when water levels are high, and can store water within the wetland. This results in more gradual discharges of water, protecting downstream land and property from flood damage.
The construction of wetland areas has provided the farm with a valuable water resource while encouraging wildlife and preventing regular flooding.