Exotic treasure in Slovakia: You can grow saffron here
Veles Farming introduces Slovakia to the unique practice of saffron cultivation, originally started in the Netherlands. In a brief interview, they shared their beginnings, the challenges of growing this delicate crop under controlled conditions, and their plans for future development. Read on to discover more about their innovative approach and goals.
What do you think about the "Made in Slovakia" project?
We are very happy that there is an initiative like this that helps start-ups, smaller companies, and Slovak businesses in general to showcase themselves, both in our market and abroad. "Made in Slovakia" offers a unique opportunity with its combination of video and PR, something we haven’t seen before. I believe it is very helpful for companies, as it promotes and represents them both locally and internationally.
How did you come up with the idea to grow saffron in Slovakia?
We started this project in the Netherlands, where we grew leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens that we sold to restaurants. However, when COVID struck, the entire business collapsed. At that point, we moved to Slovakia and sought something with more added value than just leafy greens and herbs. We experimented with various plants like papaya, vanilla, and blueberries, and that's how we discovered saffron. Through different experiments, we found a way to grow it better, with higher quality and more efficiency.
What are the main challenges in growing saffron in our climatic conditions?
Since we use a controlled environment, climatic conditions don’t affect us as much. However, outdoor farmers are significantly impacted by severe droughts and high temperatures, which are very detrimental to saffron. Saffron is extremely sensitive to environmental conditions, so maintaining an optimal environment is crucial. Our biggest challenge right now is automation. There is a lot of manual labour involved in saffron cultivation, and we are working to automate these processes.
What are the main uses of the saffron you grow?
We cater to three main sectors. First, the culinary sector, where saffron is used in French, Spanish, Greek, Arabic and Indian cuisines. Second, the cosmetics sector, where it is an ingredient in various creams and other products. Lastly, the pharmaceutical sector, where saffron is used in supplements, eye drops, and other medicinal products.
Can you describe a typical working day at Veles Farming?
It’s hard to describe a typical day at Veles Farming because each day is different. However, a general example would be arriving at the farm in the morning to ensure everything is in order. Then, we might leave the farm to handle administrative tasks, attend meetings with lawyers, investors, customers, or partners to improve or develop the farm. Finally, we return to the farm for another inspection.
What valuable insights have you gained while running Veles Farming?
The most valuable lesson is that everything good takes time. While some quick successes can be good, they are not as valuable as something built over time. Just like Rome wasn't built in a day, building a good company takes time. Certain things need to be built step by step. The most important lesson I’ve learned is that everything takes time, and you shouldn’t be afraid to start.
What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to expand your growing activities?
We are expanding by taking over warehouses around us and planning to build another farm, improved with new knowledge and iterations. For example, the towers where we grow saffron will be designed to slide, and we will implement additional levels of automation, which should be completed later this year. Once this is done, we plan to expand into foreign markets, as automation will significantly reduce our labour costs, which is currently a major expense. This will allow us to build farms wherever there are off-take points.
Watch our reportage video from our visit to Veles Farming and see how a good idea and vision can turn into a successful business.