More DW Blogs DW.COM

Search Results for Tag: agriculture

Young organic farmer fights for her land

We like buying “organic” food because it sounds like it must be better for our health and for the environment. Admit it – buying “organic” makes us feel good.

But in Germany, young organic farmers like Julia Bar-Tal don’t feel good about the rising price of the land they need to produce the local organic products their peers want to buy.

Julia and other young farmers blame multinational and German companies for buying up land for speculation purposes. This has led to price increases – especially in eastern Germany – of up to 300 percent.

Julia helps run an organic farm collective outside of Berlin with 14 other farmers. Her farm is successful, but she says she can’t expand because the land has simply become too expensive. So she and her group have decided to fight back. She is a leader in a movement that aims to enlist the help of customers who buy organic food to stop industrial giants from bidding up the price of land.

Listen to the report by Michael Scaturro in Berlin:

Julia Bar-Tal wants to raise awareness for the landgrabbing problem among the people who buy her food (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia Bar-Tal wants to raise awareness for the landgrabbing problem among the people who buy her food (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Hello up there! (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Hello up there! (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia's farm is not far from urban Berlin (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia’s farm is not far from urban Berlin (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

 

Date

Tuesday 14.01.2014 | 13:31

Share

Feedback

Comments deactivated

Resuscitating a Portuguese ghost town

Francisco could have gotten a well-paying job in the city. But the the young Portuguese academic decided to use his agricultural expertise to rejuvenate a local town suffering from economic decay.

Listen to the report by Guilherme Correia da Silva in Querença, Portugal:

Resuscitating a Portuguese ghost town

Date

Tuesday 13.11.2012 | 13:19

Share

Feedback

Comments deactivated

African livestock insurance scheme pays out first claims

Andrew Mude, the man behind an innovative livestock insurance program, reflects upon the scheme’s successes so far – and its future potential.

Andrew Mude

Check out DW’s interview with Andrew Mude.

Here’s more about the International Livestock Research Institute.

What kind of unique insurance program would your community need? Share your thoughts!

Date

Friday 28.10.2011 | 14:35

Share

Feedback

Comments deactivated

Young Swede lends a hand on traditional Japanese rice farms

Richard, a 20-year-old Swede, is dedicated to learning the traditional art of harvesting rice in Japan and helping farmers get back on their feet after the tsunami disaster.

Young Swede lends a hand on traditional Japanese rice farms

Richard  Sedin

Richard was on the lookout for a way to help

Richard Sedin

He had to learn the traditional method of harvesting rice

Rice

The rice tastes better when it dries naturally

Baby on Japanese rice farm

The tsunami was a major setback for the rice farming families in Japan

Date

Tuesday 18.10.2011 | 15:31

Share

Feedback

Comments deactivated

From inner-city LA to the farms of Nepal

Roxy Cruz, a 22-year old Mexican-American, spent a year in Nepal working with peasant farmers and migrant workers. She’s now an environmental activist in Los Angeles.

Roxy Cruz

Listen to the report

Date

Monday 08.08.2011 | 14:53

Share

Feedback

Comments deactivated