BIOHOF AGA (Thüringen - Germany): an example of good practice in social, educational and organic farming
25.11.2013
In the frame of the European Food Kids project, a Grundtvig Learning Partnership between Denmark, Germany and Poland, and funded by the European Union, to promote healthy food in public canteens, Area Viva visited Biohof Aga, an social and organic farm also taking part in educational programs.
Biohof Aga was created five years ago by Carolin Ullrich, in Aga, near Gera (Thüringen region - Germany). It is an organic farm adapted for handicapped workers. It has one the most modern greenhouse in Europe, built in 2010 and works in collaboration with another farm that breeds chickens and collect eggs. Biohof Aga grows mainly organic tomatoes, cucumbers and salads, and sorts out the eggs coming from the farm. Forty-two handicapped people take care of the vegetables and eggs and four employees are leading them in four teams. The organization has employed disabled people since 2011; they come from Gera and receive salary from the state and pocket money from Biohof Aga.
To make the environment safer for the workers, special measures were taken right from the beginning of the building of the greenhouse. First, the greenhouse roof is made of safety glass, then the alleys between the vegetables rows are wider to let more space for the employees to walk and work there and the lifts used to pick the highest tomatoes have special safety guardrails, higher than standard ones. Finally, the packaging hall has an underfloor heating which makes this working area more comfortable.
Autor: Mélanie Bourbigot | Sekce: SOCIÁLNÍ ZEMĚDĚLSTVÍ | Tisk | Poslat článek známému
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