Inside Hungary's sustainable farming revolution

As the global population continues to grow, the demand for sustainable food production is becoming increasingly urgent. In Hungary, innovative start-ups are leading the way in developing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional agricultural methods.

‌Bedrock Farms, situated near Budapest, uses hydroponics -  a process of growing plants without soil - to cultivate micro greens. "Micro greens are herbs but at a smaller scale of their development," says the farm's co-founder Endre Szucks. "The taste and nutrition are much more concentrated than in traditional herbs you could buy."

Hydroponics uses up to 95 percent less water than conventional farming. A nutrient-rich solution is circulated to nourish the plants, while specialized UV lights replace natural sunlight, allowing them to be grown indoors.

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"If we have electricity, we have everything‌," says Szucks. "As for the environmental impact, we can run it on solar power."

‌Hungary is grappling with increasing aridity and desertification in some regions due to severe droughts, which has resulted in the destruction of over half a million hectares of crops since 2022.

‌Bedrock Farms supplies ingredients to restaurants in Budapest for approximately 30,000 food plates each month. With consumer awareness about food choices growing, alternative farming methods are gaining popularity in the region.

‌Just 30 minutes north of Budapest, another alternative approach is being explored. Biodynamic farming combines permaculture and ecological farming principles - farming processes that don't produce waste - to create a chemical-free plot. 

Pallagvolgyi Biokertis is the first and only farm in Hungary using this technique. Alfred Szilagyi explains: "We use eco-friendly methods to get the most out of our small piece of land."

‌According to the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, the country has expanded its organic farming land by 93.8 square kilometers over the past four years. However, it still accounts for only six percent of the country's total arable land, a stark contrast to neighboring Austria, where over 26 percent of land is dedicated to organic farming.

‌Each year, our farm provides vegetables to 75 local families in nearby communities," says Szilagyi. "Our mission is to support this region, ensuring that people don't have to travel long distances to access their food."

‌Critics argue that while alternative farming methods have potential, scalability and affordability remain significant challenges. But with over half of the world's population residing in cities - a figure that's expected to rise substantially in the next 20 years - these methods could revolutionize urban agriculture by growing food closer to where it's consumed.

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