Running until 2026, ACE-EX brings together 20 partners from 9 European and non-European countries to develop a new professional role: the Expert in Circular Economy Processes in Agriculture. This figure is becoming increasingly vital, especially as the farming sector faces the twin challenges of environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.
Ivana Flašingerová, a grapevine breeder and geneticist, explains how experimentation defines the identity of Vinselekt Michlovský. The company founder’s motto, “What hasn’t been tried, hasn’t been understood,” sums up their approach, an ongoing openness to innovation, a constant pursuit of knowledge, and the ability to respond to new sector challenges. In this context, both environmental and financial considerations drove the decision to adopt circular practices. With livestock farming in decline and manure becoming scarce, the team looked abroad for inspiration and decided to make better use of winemaking residues.
They began turning grape pomace, skins, and seeds into vermicompost, a natural fertilizer created through the activity of Californian earthworms. Vinselekt Michlovský refined the process, allowing them to reuse the same worms year after year, thereby cutting costs and reducing waste. This system recycles organic matter back into the soil, closing the production loop smartly and sustainably.
This approach offers several benefits. Financially, the company has saved on fertilizer purchases and waste disposal. Environmentally, they’ve eliminated the impact of external waste treatment. Socially, a local retiree manages the vermicompost process, regularly visiting the winery to help out and strengthen the community spirit among the team.
Lenka Michlovská, sales manager, says visitors often show genuine surprise when they learn about the whole production cycle during guided tours. Seeing how the winery reuses organic waste leaves a strong impression and becomes part of the story behind every bottle. Composting, which is often out of sight, has become a defining element of the brand’s identity.
Although there’s potential to expand the circular approach—for instance, by producing oil or flour from grape seeds, the company has chosen to stick with the current system. It works well, it’s sustainable, and it fits perfectly within their production chain. This balanced decision reflects the thoughtful and practical mindset at Vinselekt Michlovský.
Their story proves that circular economy in agriculture isn’t just a concept—it’s a real, repeatable, and beneficial practice. The ACE-EX project will continue to collect and share examples like this, offering tools and knowledge to train a new generation of professionals who can lead the transition toward a more sustainable farming future.
🔗 Learn more about the ACE-EX project: https://ace-ex.eu