Farmer of the Week: Robert Dahl, Germany

Declining sales, high personnel costs, explosion in energy costs! The past two years have not been easy. Nevertheless, Robert Dahl , entrepreneur and owner of Karls Erdbeerhof, is not having any sleepless nights because of it.

In 1992 he started his own business with ten hectares of strawberry fields.

Robert has remained true to his roots and still grows strawberries today. However, they only make up 25 percent of his total turnover, the rest comes from the amusement parks. "But strawberries are still our identity," says Dahl. An identity that demands a lot!

In the last 24 months, production costs have risen dramatically, partly due to the higher minimum wage and the elimination of tax breaks, says Dahl.

"But I want to continue to offer people strawberries from regional cultivation at affordable prices," says Robert. Cultivation must be changed so that costs remain within limits. The solution: innovation! Dahl: "Without innovation, agriculture is difficult to function. If I don't bring it in, I'm dead."

Dahl grows strawberries on 300 hectares of land around Rostock . They had to be picked from the ground by hand, a laborious process. Until now! Dahl had racks built on which strawberries grew. This means that the harvest workers can pick while standing, get a lot more done in the same amount of time and earn more themselves.

"We are currently investing millions in the conversion, but in return we will still be able to grow strawberries here in ten years' time," says Dahl.

Bild