SATURDAY, June 17
Visits in the Countryside, the best of Wielkopolska Voivodeship
Departure from the meeting points at walking distance from the hotels. The estates are in the surrounding area of Poznan, maximum 130km.
We will not come back to the hotels before the farewell dinner.
09:00am- farewell dinner
BLUE TOUR : Heritage & Entrepreneurship
Visit to Pałac Dąbrowski, Winna Gora (50km)
The Pałac Dąbrowski was given to General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski in1808 by Napoleon in thanks for fighting bravely. His direct descendant Count Krzysztof Mańkowski was born here but was forced to leave with his parents (Andrew Mankowski and Klementyna Mańkowska) in 1939. They left for France but Krzysztof Mańkowski eventually came back to Poland and unfortunately passed away there in January of this year at the age of 90. The palace was renovated at the beginning of the 20th century. Today the palace is a ‘history interpretation centre’. The park has recently been fitted with a rainwater irrigation system.
Farm, cattle and wildlife management, Paul Polska Sp.
Meet with farmer Janusz Paul & family and lunch at the farm to see the cattle and discuss about the wildlife management on the estate. Janusz is one of the biggest farmers in the Poland and as a great hunter he is organizing hunting tours. The next generation is entirely involved in the management as well.
Farm, machinery in Brodnica
Przemyslaw Laskowski and his wife will welcome us at their facilities and will tell us how the grew from being young farmers to managing a 1000ha + farm.
08:00pm Pałac Mańkowskich w Brodnicy-Brodnica Mansion
Farewell dinner
NB We will head straight to the dinner after the visits where there are rooms to rest and change. Those not attending the dinner can return by Shuttle Bus leaving Brodnica at 07:00pm.
For those leaving earlier on Saturday, you can attend the morning tour in Poznan (Blue)
RED TOUR : Horses & competition- Agricultural Export & Innovation, the family businesses
Short tour at the Design Factory, hub for young designer in Poznan
Visit to Babórowko Palace owned by the Swiecicki family.
The company’s work includes the farm tourism resident hotel, family and business event organisation as well as international equestrian shows. The family also deals with horse breeding and selling and manage a multi-hectare farm. The passion for horses and equestrian sports runs in the family for generations. Henryk Swiecicki and his family are also very active in the organization of the worldwide known "Cavaliada Tour".
Lunch in the wooden barn
Afternoon visit to z domu Rembowskich (40km), Popówko : Fruit Juices
A family business run by Tomasz Rembowski that began 40 years ago in first in Zukowo in agriculture, then a gardening company and now, since 2001, as a processing plant in Popówko for natural pressed juices using traditional methods without preservatives or food enhancers. Other products include organic syrups, sour lemonade and smoothies.
Pałac Mańkowskich w Brodnicy-Brodnica Mansion
Farewell dinner
NB We will head straight to the dinner after the visits where there are rooms to rest and change. Those not attending the dinner can return by Shuttle Bus leaving Brodnica at 07:00pm.
For those leaving earlier on Saturday, you can attend the morning tour in Poznan (Blue)
ORANGE TOUR (YF) : Biodiversity & high quality local products
"Spirits & style"
Meet with the Polish entrepreneur Tomas Miler in Poznan.
“Spirits & Style” is a group of Polish companies active in the fashion and spirit industries. The group features 4 brands supported by 4 lifestyle media outlets with a large online following.
(menswear, potato vodka, wallet and accessories for travel, online shop for spirits focusing on Armagnac, Calvados, Cognac and whisky)
Visit to the Poznan City Farm to see a beautiful example of Urban farming.
Visit to a Fishfarm Gospodarstwo Rybackie Skoki
Welcome by Krzysztof Kowaleski, President of the Young Opinion CIC, and his father for a visit of the family fish farm and developments.
Pałac Mańkowskich w Brodnicy-Brodnica Mansion
Farewell dinner
NB We will head straight to the dinner after the visits where there are rooms to rest and change. Those not attending the dinner can return by Shuttle Bus leaving Brodnica at 07:00pm.
For those leaving earlier on Saturday, you can attend the morning tour in Poznan
GREEN TOUR : Diversification & Vision for the Future - from real estates to specialised productions
under construction. If numbers allow, we will confirm group n° 4
FCS Farewell Informal Dinner all groups will meet directly there without going back to Poznan
08:30pm : Pałac Mańkowskich w Brodnicy-Brodnica Mansion
Agriculture in Wielkopolska Voivodeship
The agricultural reform of 1944 expropriated with immediate effect and without compensation all owners of land estates with an area of over 50 hectares (100 ha in the western provinces), expropriating land, livestock, buildings, equipment, and the manor house. Land was partly divided among the peasants and partly taken over by the state. From 1944 to 1948 a total of 9,707 land estates (3.5 million hectares) were expropriated for the purposes of this agricultural reform. Of this number, 1.2 million hectares was parcelled out among 387,000 peasant families. Unparcelled land was included as state land property or state forests. Many of the manor houses and palaces were plundered and fell into complete ruin.
After 1990, landowning families were permitted to take back their homes when the administrative courts interpreted the regulations in such a way that manors were not subject to the agricultural decree. Owners of assets confiscated on the basis of the land reform had a chance to recover only part of their assets—the mansion and its immediate surroundings—but no forest or land.
The Greater Poland region surrounding Poznań has a gently rolling countryside, is home to over a hundred lakes and known for its wetlands, forests and meadows. The Warta river functions as an essential feature to this landscape, flowing from north to south through the city of Poznań. In 2020, 47% of Poland’s land was used for agriculture. Subsequently, every third Pole makes a living from farming. Within the EU, Poland is the largest producer of apples and poultry specifically.
The country has one of the most diverse environments in Europe with forests, high mountains, numerous lakes, 800 km of sandy coast, wetlands in the Biebrza National Park, and the only desert in Central Europe—the Bledowska Desert. It is also home to the 800-year-old salt mine in Wieliczka with chambers, sculptures, and an entire chapel carved from rock salt 135 meters underground.Agricultural production in Poland differs from most other EU countries.
Many farmers, especially those who own small holdings, apply traditional production technology and allocate agricultural products for family use. This contributes to the maintenance of biological diversity in Poland, for which Poland is often praised. Some species and their habitats still exist in Poland, having disappeared in western-European countries. A downside of traditional farming might be the absence of the power of greater market-oriented farming holdings that would help overcome future challenges of climate change and soil degradation or infertility.
