OREANDA-NEWS. One of the biggest organic farming entities in Europe Agrowill Group managing organic farms all over Lithuania aims to attract EUR 20 million investment into scientific research and innovations. Implementing its new vision of sustainable business the company intends to focus on the production of agricultural products and further development of innovations in order to become not only the biggest but also the most innovative organic farm in Europe.

“During the next two years we are determined to implement innovative sustainable farming model to completely change the current perception about organic farming. We think that the future of organic farming is more than avoiding the use of chemicals. Our vision is organic food products produced in most sustainable way and affordable to wider group of consumers. We will create it employing effective modern technologies, and aim for sustainability by moving from the use of fossil fuels to biogas.” – stated the chairman of the board of Agrowill Group.

Rapidly growing organic food market arround the world provides favorable conditions for Agrowill Group to develop its business and to implement its new vision, which will ensure that in the future the company’s brand will be associated with sustainable, socially responsible and environmentally friendly business.

After finishing the restructuring and chosing  new direction of organic agriculture last year, Agrowill seeks to attract investment for scientific research and innovations: development of new generation diary and poultry frams, building a new line of combined feedstuffs and development of production of organic seeds. EUR 17 million will be invested into these branches. Another EUR 3 million is intended to invest into biogas application for tractor fuel and other projects.

According to the estimates of Agrowill Group the manure of its livestock can be used to produce about 7.5 million tons of biogas per year. This would help to reduce CO2 emissions by 35 thous. tons annually. It is planned to avoid the emission of green house gases that naturally occures during decomposition of manure. With application of purified compressed biogas fuel for tractors and other agricultural machinery the use of fossil fuel will be reduced.

After implementation of new organic farming vision Agrowill Group plans to produce 37 thous. tons of milk for processing, to grow 20 thous. tons of crops, 28 thous. tons of vegetables and 12 thous. tons of mushrooms.

The company manages 25 500 ha of agricultural land and grows 10 000 tons of mushrooms per year. It has the herd of 3 500 milking cows. According to unaudited annual report the company earned EUR 47.4 million revenue in 2015, which was 13% higher compared to prior year. The company’s EBITDA reached EUR 10.8 million, up by 52% versus 2014.

The size of organic food market in Europe is about EUR 26 billion and it grows by approx. 8% each year. In USA the sales of organic farm products total to EUR 31.1 billion, increasing at 11% annual growth rate.

According to consumer research in various countries about 75% of people think that majority of procuts offered today are not natural and organic and 80% believe that the quality of life can be improved by chosing to eat “clean” food.

The trend of sustainable consumption is especially widespread in Scandinavian countries. For example in Sweden 38% of consumers can be described as living the lifestyle of health and sustainability and they chose to consumer organic products.