00:01Increasing yields, heavier machines and bigger fields.
00:05Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, its monoculture farmland has been expanding.
00:11A few large-scale farms now cultivate about a third of all farmland.
00:15But there is a counter-movement.
00:17Organic farmers who promote sustainable agriculture.
00:20More and more women are taking an interest.
00:25We use our soil in a bad way and we harm it.
00:29We make it less fertile and we treat it as something that belongs to us
00:33and not something that is given to us to protect.
00:39Poland's only school of organic agriculture, located in Dziwów,
00:44is taking that to heart and wants to help safeguard the environment.
00:49Eva Schmuck-Stratenwert founded the school with a focus on agroecology.
00:55In these so-called pillars of agroecology,
00:59there is a lot of emphasis also on these aspects like strengthening women in agriculture
01:07or young people in agriculture or the territorial aspect of farming,
01:14which I think makes it a bit more holistic.
01:19This includes working with animals.
01:22Feeding the cows between lessons is a welcome break for students Magdalena Belczyk
01:27and Martina Macignac.
01:34This is not hard. This is an easy job and nice because we can work with the animals.
01:41My farm, my boyfriend has around 20 cows, so sometimes I help with him.
01:51Then it's back to theory.
01:53This week's topic is vegetable cultivation.
01:57The students learn how common crops like potatoes, onions or carrots
02:02thrive best in Poland's mostly sandy soil.
02:05The program lasts 12 months.
02:08Students study part-time, committing to six intensive two-week courses spread out over the year
02:14and three months of hands-on experience at an organic farm.
02:19We spend a lot of time to teach about soil and to build kind of a relationship to soil,
02:26to feel a lot of respect for nature.
02:32The agroecological approach attracts more women than men.
02:36Generally, it's about a 60-40 split.
02:39This year is no exception.
02:47Statistics are starting to reflect this interest.
02:50Women now run about a third of all organic farms.
02:54The school's founders are trailblazers in Poland, where organic farming is still in its infancy
03:00and makes up just under 5% of all agriculture.
03:03The EU average is 11%.
03:08Recently, we were visited by a representative from the Agriculture Ministry,
03:13from the Department of Organic Agriculture.
03:17He shows us the figures and just how much growth there is every year.
03:22But for small farms, finding a market remains a struggle.
03:28This works best through direct sales at farmers' markets, like here in Warsaw.
03:34Many organic farmers specialize in just a few products which they sell themselves.
03:40The Stratenwärts Organic Farm is also specialized.
03:43It sells homemade bread and goat cheese at farmers' markets in the capital and in their farm shop.
03:50The farm's marketing strategy has been incorporated into the school curriculum.
03:59About 100 graduates have received these state-recognized certificates so far.
04:06Students pay the equivalent of 600 euros for the training, but the actual costs are 10 times higher.
04:12So far, sponsors have covered the difference.
04:17But the challenge is that now is the end of this very good support
04:23and we are trying to find other ways of supporting the course.
04:28For now, though, it's back to the field.
04:31This course focuses on planting hedges along the edges of fields
04:34to create habitat for small animals, thereby increasing biodiversity.
04:40Magdalena Belczyk wants as much experience as possible before the end of the program in summer.
04:46She already has an idea for what's next.
04:49I'm planning on making some, like growing some small amount of vegetables on my own.
04:54And then if it will be successful, and if it turns out that I learned something,
05:01then maybe it will grow into a business as well.
05:04The school's future remains uncertain, but it has helped organic farming take root in Poland.
05:11And in the process, strengthened the role of women in organic farming.
05:15So that you will understand today or study, at that time...
05:16Oh, I still can't think of being decentralized..
05:19It will never be included in a pod in the entire institute with a great, the Dominican andяет
05:22So at the end theyached the study back with young people.
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