10 Nadace Pro Pudu
Nadace Pro půdu (Foundation for Soil) was established in 2016.
Our vision is healthy, vital and fertile soil that is cultivated with love and treated as a gift, not as a commodity.
Our mission is to enable access to land for small–scale organic farmers and therefore to protect soil from degradation and ensure its health and fertility.
504 hectares of land farmed by 6 farms (2025).
NPP cooperates on the incubator farm in Valeč for new entrant farmers who study in The Farm school (Organic farming vocational program).
NPP is currently planning to open a grant scheme that will support new farmers in establishing their farm.
The Czech Republic unfortunately leads in the ranking of the largest average size per farm in Europe. This is closely related to high rates of erosion (more than 50 % of Czech soil is suffering erosion) and other ways of soil degradation, as well as profiteers' pressure on land prices. Nadace Pro půdu responds to this situation with its philosophy that land is our common gift and not just a means of production and commodity.
The first ideas to establish the trust were discussed between 2013 and 2015. Nadace Pro půdu was officially founded in January 2016 by its founders Miloslav and Zuzana Knížek who donated the first 200 hectares at the beginning of its existence (and in total 472 hectares within the next years).
The first land purchase for a small-scale organic farmer in 2018 was the next turning point. Since then we have made several purchases with contributions from small and medium donors. Today (in 2025) NPP is a steward of 504 ha that are farmed by 6 farms in various parts of the Czech Republic (1 big dairy and beef farm, 3 small organic mixed farms, 1 community orchard and 1 organic vineyard).
The mission of Nadace Pro půdu (Foundation for Soil) is to protect land from degradation and speculation and to contribute to a more responsible relationship of man towards the soil and thereby towards the Earth we live on. We do so by buying land for small-scale organic farmers, allowing access to land to those who can’t afford it and who take care of land with love and responsibility. In doing so we facilitate entrance of newcomers to farming and support the resilience of the current small-scale organic farmers.
Nadace Pro půdu is formed under the legislation of the Czech Republic as a foundation (similar to a trust). It has a governing board with 5 members and a supervisory board with 3 members. Once the land is put into the foundation’s basic asset it has an asset lock and cannot be sold not even with the decision of the board.
Our main activity is to support small-scale organic farmers who are in trouble with accessing land by buying the land and entrusting it to them under agreed conditions that ensure a good care of the land. We are focusing on farmers who have at least 3 years of experience in organic farming. Moreover, we continue to regularly consult with our farmers to find ways to improve the soil quality they farm. Our support consists in facilitating soil analysis (laboratory as well as sensory) to understand the current state, and also providing knowledge and consultancy with experts.
The second activity is development of incubator farms, where the aspiring farmers can experience the management of the whole farm ecosystem in a safe environment for a limited period of time. Our partner The Farm School - vocational program of organic farming is responsible for the management of the incubator and guidance of students, while Nadace Pro půdu owns the land and buildings.
The third activity is seed-funding grant scheme for beginning farmers to facilitate the establishment of their farms and agriculture start-ups, to whom we offer financial and mentoring support.
Last but not least we focus on promoting a responsible and caring relationship to soil among the broad public.
The second activity is collaboration on the forming Center Konipas, which is being set up to support beginning farmers. The center is located on our land and the aim is to build a training farm where people interested in farming can learn various regenerative farming skills, gain practice, including the use of horses for agricultural activities. The whole model is also part of a CSA farm system.
Last but not least we focus on promoting a responsible and caring relationship to soil among the broad public.
Since its formation, the rhythm of activity of Nadace Pro půdu is led mainly by new land purchases. The first purchase of land in 2018 was a 3 ha small CSA farm Biostatek, farmed by Vojtěch Veselý, with sheep breeding. In 2025 the farmer decided to end his agricultural activities. Nadace Pro půdu then purchased the farm buildings and transformed the site into an incubator farm for students of the Farm School.
The second project is also educational. In 2019 Nadace Pro půdu acquired 16 ha for Konipas – a training center for new entrant farmers led by CSA Farm Lukava in the Northern part of Czechia.
The third acquisition, in 2022, was a 1-hectare community orchard run by the local association ZAzemí. Nadace Pro půdu purchased additional 3 ha for this association in 2025.
In 2023 Nadace Pro půdu supported a beginning farmers family Raisovi raising livestock by purchasing 6.5 ha of land.
The most recent acquisition is a small vineyard used for producing biodynamic wines by a beginning viticulturist in Moravia.
Another task is the management of the 472 donated hectares farmed by the organic Farm Malonty, and its extensive soil monitoring and consultancy.
Funding comes from the income of land tenancies, and through fundraising campaigns and private donors.
During its existence Nadace has been awarded several times. In 2021 it was a finalist of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Awards. In 2024 it won the Creative Heroes award by Netherlands Czech Chamber of Commerce, and in 2025 it is a finalist of the E.ON Energy Globe Award.
Official Website: nadacepropudu.cz/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nadacepropudu
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nadacepropudu/
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCk41GkK8TyL-f0MHKJmGn7g/featured
Czech TV documentary: www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1095913550-nedej-se/217562248420014/
