What do we really want to produce: Food or Profit?
On the 2nd of April ALPA attempted to bring our vision and questions closer to the people living in Cluj-Napoca, the biggest city nearby our region, Țara-Cǎlatei/Kalotaszeg.
We prepared with movie screening, local cheese from Alunişu and with hope and promise of an insightful panel discussion, inviting actors of the Transylvanian public sphere – Tihamér Fülöp from Milvus Group, Tünde Szabó from Átlátszó Erdély and Attila Szőcs-Boruss from ALPA.
The main topic of the evening was the true price of food – as we are living in times of global uncertainty and hair-raising news, agriculture can get lost in the information overload. Even though it affects us all, how we treat our food and Earth’s ecological system, which sustains its production.
After watching the “The ALPA Documentary” it left everyone in awe – to say the least. It is always a big moment when we watch the 20-minute film as it reminds us and shows us why we do what we do.
After the movie we were asked from our facilitator, Zsófi Gaudi, to write down a word, a thought or a drawing that the film has left us with. After which the piece of paper was turned into a “snowball” and – with all the emotion that was built-up – had to be thrown into a basket!
Let us share some of the insights, anonymously!
Why didn’t I know about this problem until now?
(Miért nem tudtam eddig erről a problémáról?)
Thank you for your courage. I hope you can create in a world that’s growing ever more grey.
(Köszönet nektek, hogy bátrak vagytok. Remélem tudtok teremteni egy egyre szürkülő világban.)
Innovation is not always something new. Often, it is born from using what already exists.
(Az innováció nem mindig egy új dolog. Sokszor ez a már létezől felhasználásából születik meg.)
It gives hope that it is indeed possible to live at a different pace than the rushing world. Here, at home, in Transylvania.
(Reményt ad arra, hogy igenis lehet nem a rohanó világ tempójával élni. Itthon, Erdélyben)
Go for it, keep it up! I was really moved—it reminded me how important it is to be around good people, to live close to nature, and to love
(Hajrá, csak így tovább! Nagyon meghatott, eszembe jutott mennyire fontos jó emberekkel lenni, természet közelben élni, szeretni.)
The night continued with a panel discussion led by Borbála Láng – asked the hard and real questions, such as Who are these farmers that will move to Țara Cãlatei/Kalotaszeg? During the conversation we went around not only the topics of money, but also farm succession, biodiversity, governments, statistics and the problems caused by large scale food production.
The best part was that people also actively participated in the panel discussion with questions, reflections, insights. They were interested in what citizens can actually do, how young farmers can get support, education and also what comes next, also for ALPA but also for them. We even learnt that some had grown up in Kalotaszeg, others admitted they had no idea about these issues until now.
However the big question the night left us with is:
What do we really want to produce: Food or Profit?
The night ended on a high note. After the event finished Lars bought everyone cheese from the cheesemaker from Alunisu – who was also in the movie. We all had further discussions, and had time to connect with the people of Cluj.
