EMU Co-hosts the 69th World Ploughing Contest
The World Ploughing Contest is an annual event that brings together ploughing masters and spectators from around the world for an action-packed few days of competitive ploughing and agricultural activities.
This year, on August 16th and 17th, FRAMEwork project partner the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) co-hosted the 69th instalment of the event in Tartu, as part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 program.
The international event drew in 50 competitors from as far away as New Zealand, plus a crowd of ploughing and agriculture enthusiasts ready to cheer them on and sample the other entertainments on offer.
The contest took place at EMU’s Rõhu Garden, an experimental station for ornamental horticulture and vegetable trials and a training base for students, and the packed programme included plenty of opportunities for discussing biodiversity initiatives.
Video © Saundland
EMU introduced the FRAMEwork project with an exhibition stand and showcased biodiversity and soil digging demonstrations, plant cultivation experiments, and eco-friendly solutions like green asphalt and rain gardens. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with beneficial insects, emphasising the importance of functional biodiversity and several pop-up farm restaurants offered the opportunity to sample local produce.
Different agricultural approaches were on display, as companies showcased the latest equipment innovations alongside displays of vintage machinery and horse-ploughing demonstrations.
The event was supported by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture in Estonia, and co-hosted by EMU, the Estonian Ploughing Association, and the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge.
Thanks to EMU for such a fantastic event, and the opportunity to bring FRAMEwork learnings to new audiences, especially those following conventional farming practices with associated sustainability issues.
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