Lippische Palme: Creating value in agriculture and preserving regional cultural assets

This case study highlights how the “Lippische Palme,” a traditional kale variety from Germany’s Lippe region, is being preserved and revitalized through the efforts of a local organic farmer. Once limited to private gardens, this culturally significant vegetable is now grown on five hectares, hand-harvested, and marketed as a high-quality canned product in organic stores across northern Germany. Collaborating with the LWL open-air museum and local processors, the project ensures seed propagation, biodiversity, and regional identity while promoting the kale’s unique taste and resilience to drought. Plans for a future kale festival aim to further celebrate and preserve this cultural heritage.