FAMIGRO - An Award for Rural Entrepreneurship

We are proud to announce that ZukunftMoor, a pioneering company based in Lower Saxony, has won the FAMIGRO Award 2025. Received by Paul Waldersee at the gala evening at the Opera on June 13, the award honours an innovative approach to peatland management – vital for climate protection and the future of rural landscapes.

In Germany, around 95% of peatlands have been drained, releasing vast amounts of carbon. These areas account for 7.5% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions – about 53 million tonnes annually. To meet the Paris climate goals, Germany would need to rewet over 50,000 hectares per year. This is precisely where ZukunftMoor steps in.

The company rewets drained peatlands and cultivates sphagnum moss, a native plant, on the restored land. This method, known as paludiculture, demonstrates that wet, peat-conserving agriculture can be both environmentally and economically viable – especially since farmers manage nearly 80% of these drained lands.

ZukunftMoor’s first sphagnum farm in Gnarrenburg spans 13.4 hectares, making it the largest in the world. By dismantling drainage systems and restoring water levels, the company has transformed intensively used pastures into climate-positive wetlands – preventing about 440 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually on this pilot site alone.

Sphagnum is the only crop in Europe capable of replacing peat in horticultural substrates, offering a sustainable alternative to a material with a heavy climate footprint. ZukunftMoor’s production contributes to climate-friendly growing media, while also restoring critical habitats, improving water retention, and offering natural protection against droughts and floods.

Looking ahead, ZukunftMoor aims to scale this model to 10,000 hectares in partnership with other farms – driving long-term structural change in peatland agriculture and delivering lasting benefits for the climate, biodiversity, and local economies.