Around 600 representatives of the agricultural sector gathered at the Open Day of Ateities ūkis (“Farm of the future”), which belongs to the Agrokoncernas Group.
They had a unique opportunity to see with their own eyes the largest dairy farm complex in Europe, where the first heifers will arrive as early as November. Milk production activities at Ateities ūkis are planned to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
The complex, covering 53 hectares in Bebrujai village, Radviliškis district, will house about 10,000 cattle, including more than 4,000 dairy cows. Approximately 50 employees will work in the complex, which will feature the largest available 100-stall “DeLaval” rotary milking carousel on the market.
During the Open Day, Agrokoncernas Group owner Ramūnas Karbauskis presented his vision, future plans, and the milk production development plan for Lithuania up to 2035.
According to him, Lithuania’s dairy sector faces serious challenges – a declining number of dairy farms, the withdrawal of small producers, and a growing shortage of raw milk.
Official statistics show that the country currently has to import about one-third of the milk it needs. Lithuania’s milk production makes up only about 1% of the European Union’s output, and in terms of cattle density per hectare, the country ranks among the lowest in the EU member states developing dairy production.
“We see great potential and opportunities in milk production. With Ateities ūkis, we aim to create a structure that no other European country has – integrating crop farming, livestock farming, feed production, genetics, and research into one system that will create added value for Lithuanian farms.
Over the next decade, we will offer new solutions, quality, and consultancy to the milk market – things that have not been available until now. Our goal is a comprehensive approach and real, tangible results,” said R. Karbauskis.
In the near future, Agrokoncernas Group will sign a cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Its scientists will contribute to genetics, animal welfare, and milk quality improvement programs.
For clients and partners gathered at Ateities ūkis, the company presented its 10-year dairy business expansion plan.
According to the strategy, five currently operating dairy farms belonging to Agrokoncernas Group will be modernized. Altogether, they will house about 4,000 dairy cows.
In addition to the soon-to-be-operational Ateities ūkis, four more modern complexes are planned in Radviliškis, Šiauliai, Akmenė, and Anykščiai districts. This means the entire herd of the Agrokoncernas Group will consist of more than 25,000 dairy cows, producing around 900 tons of base milk per day.
“The project would be fully implemented with the construction of a milk processing plant. It would be fully supplied with milk from the farms of Agrokoncernas Group, ensuring raw material security for the plant’s needs,” said R. Karbauskis.
Each complex will also be equipped with biomethane plants aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Biomethane gas produced from organic cattle slurry will meet high quality standards and be supplied to the national gas grid, thus contributing to sustainable energy development and reducing dependency on imported gas.
More than €80 million has been invested in the Ateities ūkis project.
