Towards Holistic Agroecology, Combining Tradition and Technology for Land Preservation. Interview with Prof. Klemen Potočnik
Professor Klemen Potočnik from the University of Ljubljana is an expert in animal genetics with nearly 30 years of experience and an active role in EAAP. He also runs a small organic farm with his family, producing donkey and mare milk — freeze-dried on-site in Slovenia’s only such facility, significantly increasing its value. For Potočnik, the success of small farms hinges on skills, family support, and strong management—a rare yet achievable combination.
He shares several examples from Slovenia showing how small farms can thrive. One student manages an organic dairy farm with just 20 Brown Swiss cows, focusing on A2 milk, which is processed on-site, and employs seven staff members. Others run diversified farms with mixed livestock, horticulture, and direct sales, generating up to €50,000 per hectare per year. These models succeed by combining niche production, innovation, and deep personal commitment — but they’re not easily replicable without expertise and support.
Potočnik warns of a growing disconnect between urban and rural areas. Most Europeans live in cities, resulting in a distorted view of agriculture. Slovenia illustrates this gap: despite having the lowest per capita farmland in the EU, it hosts vast meadows and pastures now at risk of abandonment. In the short term, reactive policies only exacerbate the problem. What’s needed is a long-term vision to protect local resources and ensure food security.
He also highlights the decline of small farms, which has been accelerated by globalisation and specialisation. For centuries, European agriculture thrived on intergenerational farms — grandparents passed on knowledge, parents worked the land, and children learned by doing. Today, that cycle is breaking, and with it, vital skills and continuity are being lost.
Niche production, which combines technology and tradition, Potočnik believes, could reverse this trend. He advocates for “sustainable intensification” — producing more from pastures and marginal lands by respecting natural cycles, especially in hilly and mountainous areas like Slovenia or Italy. Some of the most productive and sustainable farms today originate from challenging environments, rather than fertile plains.
He also criticises subsidy-driven models that prioritise bureaucracy over real production. Instead, he calls for a paradigm shift in policy, one that values photosynthesis, pastures, and productive landscapes — as seen in Ireland and New Zealand. Even in urban areas, with the right technologies and know-how, pastures can yield more while preserving biodiversity.
Letting land go wild isn’t always better. Abandoned fields fuel wildfires and contribute to biodiversity loss. At the same time, grazing animals can help restore balance, as seen in Sardinia and Portugal, where livestock play a crucial role in managing vegetation and supporting ecosystem health.
For Potočnik, the future of European agriculture lies in blending tradition, innovation, and diverse sciences, using technologies like robotics — not to replace farmers, but to build a resilient, sustainable, and human-centred food system.