At a Glance
Location: Silnowo, Poland
Impact Areas: Rural Employment, Disability Inclusion, Environment
People Supported:
People with Disabilities, Rural Communities
NESsT Program: Central & Eastern Europe Accelerator
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2025
Overview
Located in northwestern Poland, Juchowo Farm serves as the commercial arm of the Juchowo Rural Project, a pioneering farming initiative focused on sustainable development, social inclusion, and the regeneration of rural life. Part of a broader initiative founded in 2004 and operated by the Stanisław Karłowski Foundation, the project manages 1,833 hectares of land using organic and biodynamic farming methods, an approach that treats the farm as an interconnected ecosystem—restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and using natural cycles and composting to regenerate land over time.
Juchowo Farm markets and distributes organic products grown and processed within the Juchowo Rural Project, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and artisanal cheese, grains and flours, herbal extracts, teas, herbs and spices, honey, and natural preserves, many of which are recognized locally as superfoods. Its local team, which includes seven employees from groups at risk of exclusion, sell these products to retail and wholesale partners, farm shops, and via its online store, in addition to offering hospitality services such as catering, lodging, and educational farm stays.
At the heart of Juchowo Farm’s mission is social inclusion. The entire Rural Project employs around 150 people, including 98 individuals from marginalized groups, primarily residents of nearby rural communities facing limited employment opportunities and people with disabilities. In 2025, through its Vocational Development Centre, Juchowo Farm provided dignified employment and hands-on training for 51 people with significant or moderate disabilities. Juchowo Farm works closely with the centre, selling everything produced or processed while helping participants build confidence, develop practical skills, and strengthen their path toward independent employment.
Results & Impact
~100
people from marginalized groups supported in 2025
1,833
hectares under sustainable agriculture, including 110 hectares reforested
75+
people with disabilities employed across the Vocational Development Centre, and Juchowo Farm
“For almost a quarter of a century, we have been working for future generations, acting with respect for people, animals and the earth.”
NESsT Investment
Over the next three years, Juchowo Farm will focus on strengthening its production capacity and deepening its role in revitalizing rural communities in northwestern Poland. By expanding its reach in the organic and biodynamic market, the enterprise aims to create more stable employment pathways for people facing barriers to work, while continuing to restore local ecosystems and rebuild rural livelihoods.
NESsT portfolio managers and IKEA co-workers will provide hands-on mentorship to help Juchowo Farm strengthen its operational foundation and prepare for growth. Support will center on improving impact measurement, refining communications, and strengthening governance—capabilities that will allow the enterprise to better tell its story, reach new buyers, and position biodynamic farming as a sustainable alternative within the Polish market.
NESsT’s investment will enable Juchowo Farm to expand its warehouse and logistics infrastructure, improving storage, processing, and distribution for goods produced across the Rural Project. These upgrades will help the enterprise operate more efficiently, open new market opportunities, and create a stronger economic engine that supports inclusive employment and regenerative agriculture in the region.