Bulgarian farmers cultivate ancient grain einkorn to meet demand

Petko Angelov grabs an old, rusted sickle and leads people clad in folk costumes to a ritual harvest in his fields in southern Bulgaria sown with the first ever wheat planted by humanity — the einkorn.

The popularity of the ancient grain, the origins of which can be traced back 10,500 years to the dawn of agriculture, is mounting in the Balkan country as people seek out healthier food, sustainable farming methods, and national pride.

Mr Angelov, a retired pilot, is at the heart of the growing army of einkorn producers, providing the rare seeds from his crops in the southern village of Rabovo in the Rhodopi mountains, close to the border with Greece and Turkey.