Students tackle: with farmer Wenzlaff for the ecological future!

Students tackle: with farmer Wenzlaff for the ecological future!

In Buddenhagen near Wolgast, three students recently met with a farmer for an exciting exchange about ecological agriculture. The campaign was part of the “Hof with Future” project, which was launched by the alliance “We were fed”. The aim of this initiative is to promote the dialogue between farmers and activists and to raise awareness of the interests of farmers. According to the Nordkurier last year have opened their doors for about 70 air conditioning and environmentalists.

The students Max Müller, Lea Lehmann and Kai Morgenstern, who study social work in Potsdam, had the opportunity to learn more about Eckhard Wenzlaff's work, mother cow husbandry and grassland management. Wenzlaff actively campaigns for species protection and gives the around 60 cows, calves and 10 water buffalo in his care the opportunity to keep their horns. "This starts to show the differences to factory farming," said Wenzlaff during the visit, which also included a walk in the forest and the free mowing of an electric fence. The students stayed in a sauna car - a rather unconventional but cozy atmosphere.

A look behind the scenes of agriculture

In the current discussion about the agricultural turn, the exchange between different actors is of central importance. While the foundation and the project rely on the need for dialogue, there is also a field of tension in agriculture. Bernhard Barkmann offers further insights, who criticizes that dissatisfaction among farmers is high despite solid yields. According to Greenpeace it is above all the increasing social requirements and conditions that make farmers.

Barkmann emphasizes that many farmers feel that they are not adequately recognized their achievements. In addition, the painful reduction of one billion euros that the federal government has made is perceived as outrageous. He demands practical transitional solutions and a comprehensive master plan to meet the challenges of the industry. "The dissatisfaction remains, even if the dialogue opens," says Barkmann.

The agricultural turn and its challenges

If you take a broader look at agriculture in Germany, it becomes clear that despite the many suggestions for the transformation, interests such as the German Farmers' Association (DBV) hinder a lot of progress. "From 2020 to 2023, around 7,800 companies have given up, most of them," reports Riffreporter . Critics accuse the DBV not to act in the interests of the farmers, but to favor exports and cheap goods.

However, there are also bright spots. More and more farmers realize that changes are necessary and are based on scientific expertise in the field of agricultural ecology. The involvement of farmers in the change process is considered crucial in order to find solutions together for sustainable agriculture.

The discussion about sustainable, ecological agriculture is in full swing, and projects such as “Hof with the future” play an important role. The personal exchange between students and farmers could be the first step towards a better understanding and a future together.