• I was invited to a wedding in Bogun. When strolling around the venue before the guests arrived I stumbled upon these guys decorating the place of honor where the bride and groom would soon be seated. Now decorating the place wasn’t something unusual in itself. The way it happened though was like life playing one of its bizarre games. The guys, both fishermen, were using cotton to write the names of the bridal pair. Cotton to wish them luck. Cotton to celebrate their wedding. And yet cotton had destroyed their town, their lives, their future. It was cotton that was grown in the steppes and deserts of Central Asia. Cotton, that needed so much water that it depleted the two mighty rivers feeding the Aral Sea. Cotton, that turned the lake into a dustbowl, into Aralkum, the world's youngest and most toxic desert. Cotton, that destroyed the fishing industry the whole town of Bogun depended on. Cotton, that remains the curse of the region and the people living there. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its DyingSea chapter (documented on the ground in 2007 and updated in 2018) investigates the drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #aralsea #aralseadisaster #irrigation #evaporation #amudarya #syrdarya #anthropocene #slowviolence
    84 9
    I was invited to a wedding in Bogun. When strolling around the venue before the guests arrived I stumbled upon these guys decorating the place of honor where the bride and groom would soon be seated. Now decorating the place wasn’t something unusual in itself. The way it happened though was like life playing one of its bizarre games. The guys, both fishermen, were using cotton to write the names of the bridal pair. Cotton to wish them luck. Cotton to celebrate their wedding. And yet cotton had destroyed their town, their lives, their future. It was cotton that was grown in the steppes and deserts of Central Asia. Cotton, that needed so much water that it depleted the two mighty rivers feeding the Aral Sea. Cotton, that turned the lake into a dustbowl, into Aralkum, the world's youngest and most toxic desert. Cotton, that destroyed the fishing industry the whole town of Bogun depended on. Cotton, that remains the curse of the region and the people living there. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its DyingSea chapter (documented on the ground in 2007 and updated in 2018) investigates the drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #aralsea #aralseadisaster #irrigation #evaporation #amudarya #syrdarya #anthropocene #slowviolence
  • This chapter starts with the end. The end of a grand irrational dream. The end of two rivers so mighty that early Muslims believed them to be two of the four rivers that run into paradise. And the end of a bottle of cognac. It was ten in the morning and Dusbai had brought me and a neighbor to meet his brigade of fishermen. Now we were sitting in the UAZ 469 staring out on the water that still stretched to the horizon and all I could see where a bunch of camels wetting their feet. Then another glass was pressed into my hand. No way of declining the offer. I had been hopeful when we finished the bottle of Vodka some time ago. With clumsy legs I had been walking outside on the salt crusted ground to get sober again, until the cold October wind convinced me to return to the overheated car. Unfortunately Dusbai had found another bottle and within an hour his constant call to worship the spirits of friendship had evaporated most of it. At least this was the last drink this morning. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its DyingSea chapter (documented on the ground in 2007 and updated in 2018) investigates the drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #aralsea #aralseadisaster #irrigation #camels #evaporation #amudarya #syrdarya #environmentalphotojournalism #anthropocene #slowviolence
    83 0
    This chapter starts with the end. The end of a grand irrational dream. The end of two rivers so mighty that early Muslims believed them to be two of the four rivers that run into paradise. And the end of a bottle of cognac. It was ten in the morning and Dusbai had brought me and a neighbor to meet his brigade of fishermen. Now we were sitting in the UAZ 469 staring out on the water that still stretched to the horizon and all I could see where a bunch of camels wetting their feet. Then another glass was pressed into my hand. No way of declining the offer. I had been hopeful when we finished the bottle of Vodka some time ago. With clumsy legs I had been walking outside on the salt crusted ground to get sober again, until the cold October wind convinced me to return to the overheated car. Unfortunately Dusbai had found another bottle and within an hour his constant call to worship the spirits of friendship had evaporated most of it. At least this was the last drink this morning. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its DyingSea chapter (documented on the ground in 2007 and updated in 2018) investigates the drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #aralsea #aralseadisaster #irrigation #camels #evaporation #amudarya #syrdarya #environmentalphotojournalism #anthropocene #slowviolence
  • After a long day pulling cotton Sory Sougalo walks home from the field. This is the final post of the cotton journey through Burkina Faso that focused on organic farming and the dissemination and effects of genetically modified seeds. From here our investigation follows the „White Gold“ to Central Asia, where excessive irrigation destroyed the Aral Sea, leaving a polluted wasteland behind. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #globalization
    38 2
    After a long day pulling cotton Sory Sougalo walks home from the field. This is the final post of the cotton journey through Burkina Faso that focused on organic farming and the dissemination and effects of genetically modified seeds. From here our investigation follows the „White Gold“ to Central Asia, where excessive irrigation destroyed the Aral Sea, leaving a polluted wasteland behind. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #globalization
  • Sory Pande Karidja pulls cotton with her daughter. Sory was one of the first farmers in Burkina Faso growing organic cotton. When she started other farmers blamed her for not using chemical pesticides. They feared that pests from her fields might destroy their own ones thus hurting the community. Over the years though this attitude changed when her neighbors realized this wasn’t the case and Sory‘s cotton was making more profit than the conventional one. Gradually many changed to organic farming. This enabled them not only to increase their income but also to improve soil fertility, their health and food security. Growing organic is much more profitable than conventional cotton, even though the organic yield is lower on average. While conventional farmers average 1,100kg/ha, organic farmers only get about 675kg/ha on average with only the best ones reaching about 1000kg/ha. But as organic cotton realizes a higher price on the market, 272 CFA/kg instead of 165 CFA/kg, the gross profit per hectare is nearly identical in organic and conventional farms. Because organic farmers spend about 90% less on inputs, as they don’t have to buy commercial fertilizer and pesticides, their gross margin is about 30% better than for conventional farmers. The lower input prices also reduce the risk of running into debt, which many conventional farmers struggle from. And because no synthetic and poisonous chemicals are used even pregnant women can grow cotton without endangering their children. Thus organic cotton became known as a women’s crop. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming
    49 0
    Sory Pande Karidja pulls cotton with her daughter. Sory was one of the first farmers in Burkina Faso growing organic cotton. When she started other farmers blamed her for not using chemical pesticides. They feared that pests from her fields might destroy their own ones thus hurting the community. Over the years though this attitude changed when her neighbors realized this wasn’t the case and Sory‘s cotton was making more profit than the conventional one. Gradually many changed to organic farming. This enabled them not only to increase their income but also to improve soil fertility, their health and food security. Growing organic is much more profitable than conventional cotton, even though the organic yield is lower on average. While conventional farmers average 1,100kg/ha, organic farmers only get about 675kg/ha on average with only the best ones reaching about 1000kg/ha. But as organic cotton realizes a higher price on the market, 272 CFA/kg instead of 165 CFA/kg, the gross profit per hectare is nearly identical in organic and conventional farms. Because organic farmers spend about 90% less on inputs, as they don’t have to buy commercial fertilizer and pesticides, their gross margin is about 30% better than for conventional farmers. The lower input prices also reduce the risk of running into debt, which many conventional farmers struggle from. And because no synthetic and poisonous chemicals are used even pregnant women can grow cotton without endangering their children. Thus organic cotton became known as a women’s crop. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming
  • Sory Pande Karidja is the president of the women association in Naniagara. She was one of the first organic cotton farmers in Burkina Faso. Before farming organic she didn’t grow any cotton because conventional cotton requires a lot of chemical pesticides. As the chemicals are especially dangerous for pregnant women and their children, women normally don’t grow their own cotton. With cotton being the major cash crop most women weren’t able to earn money of their own and instead depend on their husband for cash. When organic cotton production was first introduced by aid organizations in Burkina Faso, mainly women tried it, realizing a chance to become more independent. Male farmers on the other hand often stayed with the conventional cotton, because they feared reduced yield without synthetic fertilizers. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #interview #femalefarmers
    54 1
    Sory Pande Karidja is the president of the women association in Naniagara. She was one of the first organic cotton farmers in Burkina Faso. Before farming organic she didn’t grow any cotton because conventional cotton requires a lot of chemical pesticides. As the chemicals are especially dangerous for pregnant women and their children, women normally don’t grow their own cotton. With cotton being the major cash crop most women weren’t able to earn money of their own and instead depend on their husband for cash. When organic cotton production was first introduced by aid organizations in Burkina Faso, mainly women tried it, realizing a chance to become more independent. Male farmers on the other hand often stayed with the conventional cotton, because they feared reduced yield without synthetic fertilizers. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #interview #femalefarmers
  • In many rural areas of Burkina Faso girls are often taken out of school so that they can go and look for water. The new well build in Naniagara with the fair trade premium for organic cotton reduced the time spent for gathering water considerably, so that more girls can attend school most of the time. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #organicfarming #environmentalportrait
    114 3
    In many rural areas of Burkina Faso girls are often taken out of school so that they can go and look for water. The new well build in Naniagara with the fair trade premium for organic cotton reduced the time spent for gathering water considerably, so that more girls can attend school most of the time. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #organicfarming #environmentalportrait
  • Girls fetch water from the new well build with the fair trade premium for organic cotton in Naniagara in western Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject
    89 0
    Girls fetch water from the new well build with the fair trade premium for organic cotton in Naniagara in western Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject
  • Sory Sougalo seeds freshly harvested corn. Corn is one of the main staple foods and basis for the traditional Tô, the polenta-style cakes served with a vegetable sauce. Often this basic diet is supplemented with an egg and from time to time with chicken, mutton, goat or fish. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #environmentalportrait
    59 0
    Sory Sougalo seeds freshly harvested corn. Corn is one of the main staple foods and basis for the traditional Tô, the polenta-style cakes served with a vegetable sauce. Often this basic diet is supplemented with an egg and from time to time with chicken, mutton, goat or fish. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #environmentalportrait
  • After the harvest, corn is stored at elevated platforms to protect it from decay and hungry livestock. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #organicfarmer
    40 2
    After the harvest, corn is stored at elevated platforms to protect it from decay and hungry livestock. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organicfarming #organicfarmer
  • Farmers store their cotton in dedicated huts. Naniagara, a village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso where many farmers switched to organic agriculture. Organic cotton is often called a women’s crop in Burkina Faso were cotton is traditionally only grown by men. But because no synthetic and poisonous chemicals are used even pregnant women can grow organic cotton without endangering their children. So it is no wonder that of the roughly 7,000 organic producers in 2008 nearly one third were women. Many of their husbands though continued with conventional cotton, as it is the mens’ responsible to grow the cereals needed for the entire family and so they felt they had to ensure access to fertilizer. Because the distribution of fertilizer is a monopoly of the cotton companies such as SOFITEX only farmers growing cotton have access to fertilizer. When genetically modified Bt-cotton was commercialized in 2008/09 many female organic producers got in trouble and finally were kicked out of the organic cotton program. While it was possible to guarantee the separation of harvested conventional and organic cotton, ensuring no genetically modified seeds contaminated the organic producers supply within the same household became virtually impossible. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #gmo
    72 2
    Farmers store their cotton in dedicated huts. Naniagara, a village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso where many farmers switched to organic agriculture. Organic cotton is often called a women’s crop in Burkina Faso were cotton is traditionally only grown by men. But because no synthetic and poisonous chemicals are used even pregnant women can grow organic cotton without endangering their children. So it is no wonder that of the roughly 7,000 organic producers in 2008 nearly one third were women. Many of their husbands though continued with conventional cotton, as it is the mens’ responsible to grow the cereals needed for the entire family and so they felt they had to ensure access to fertilizer. Because the distribution of fertilizer is a monopoly of the cotton companies such as SOFITEX only farmers growing cotton have access to fertilizer. When genetically modified Bt-cotton was commercialized in 2008/09 many female organic producers got in trouble and finally were kicked out of the organic cotton program. While it was possible to guarantee the separation of harvested conventional and organic cotton, ensuring no genetically modified seeds contaminated the organic producers supply within the same household became virtually impossible. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #gmo
  • Martin picks the cotton on his uncles farm. Since the Swiss organization Helvetas started the organic cotton project in Naniagara the farmers prosper as organic farming improves their financial situation. Although organic cotton needs more labor, and in the beginning gives a lower yield than chemical farming it is more profitable to the farmers due to higher selling price and lower input costs as it dispenses with fertilizers and pesticides. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
    127 2
    Martin picks the cotton on his uncles farm. Since the Swiss organization Helvetas started the organic cotton project in Naniagara the farmers prosper as organic farming improves their financial situation. Although organic cotton needs more labor, and in the beginning gives a lower yield than chemical farming it is more profitable to the farmers due to higher selling price and lower input costs as it dispenses with fertilizers and pesticides. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
  • Bent over for hours, dragging a heavy sack of cotton behind you, eating dust and cutting your fingers on the sharp edges of the dried plants, pulling cotton is a taxing and tedious work. I know what I am talking about, because where ever I went, be it India, Central Asia or Burkina Faso, I always spent a few hours pulling cotton with the people I documented. This was to learn what it feels like, to be able to really appreciate the hard work. It is so easy to forget how tough it is when you are dancing around with the camera, always in search of the most telling angle and moment. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
    68 5
    Bent over for hours, dragging a heavy sack of cotton behind you, eating dust and cutting your fingers on the sharp edges of the dried plants, pulling cotton is a taxing and tedious work. I know what I am talking about, because where ever I went, be it India, Central Asia or Burkina Faso, I always spent a few hours pulling cotton with the people I documented. This was to learn what it feels like, to be able to really appreciate the hard work. It is so easy to forget how tough it is when you are dancing around with the camera, always in search of the most telling angle and moment. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
  • Sory Sougalo harvests his field of conventional in the early morning in Naniagara, a small village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso. Naniagara was one of the first villages in Burkina Faso where many of its farmers switched to organic cotton. They hoped to thrive financially from higher prices paid for the organic fibre and also reduce health risks from chemical pesticides. The organic fair-trade program, supported by the Swiss organization Helvetas had started five years earlier. When I visited many had already switched growing, while a few others were still sticking with conventional cotton. The rift sometimes even ran within one family, with men like Sory Sougalo still using pesticides on their fields while their wives often turning to organic production. Burkina Faso’s cotton is known for its high quality and long staple length. These qualities were developed by a breeding program that ran over 70 years originally initiated by the French government. The program focused on adaption to the growing conditions in West Africa, a high ginning ratio – the percentage of cotton fibre to total weight – and a long staple length. While today most cotton in the world is machine picked, the handpicked cotton is Burkina Faso’s competitive advantage on the global cotton market. Handpicking produces a higher lint quality as it keeps the fibers in tact, allowing them to retain their length and sturdiness. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
    46 3
    Sory Sougalo harvests his field of conventional in the early morning in Naniagara, a small village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso. Naniagara was one of the first villages in Burkina Faso where many of its farmers switched to organic cotton. They hoped to thrive financially from higher prices paid for the organic fibre and also reduce health risks from chemical pesticides. The organic fair-trade program, supported by the Swiss organization Helvetas had started five years earlier. When I visited many had already switched growing, while a few others were still sticking with conventional cotton. The rift sometimes even ran within one family, with men like Sory Sougalo still using pesticides on their fields while their wives often turning to organic production. Burkina Faso’s cotton is known for its high quality and long staple length. These qualities were developed by a breeding program that ran over 70 years originally initiated by the French government. The program focused on adaption to the growing conditions in West Africa, a high ginning ratio – the percentage of cotton fibre to total weight – and a long staple length. While today most cotton in the world is machine picked, the handpicked cotton is Burkina Faso’s competitive advantage on the global cotton market. Handpicking produces a higher lint quality as it keeps the fibers in tact, allowing them to retain their length and sturdiness. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #documentingourworld #organiccotton #organicfarming #organicfarmer
  • A young man tries to find the best signal for his radio Naniagara, a small village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #environmentalportrait, #environmentalportraits
    59 0
    A young man tries to find the best signal for his radio Naniagara, a small village near Banfora in western Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007. ––– #landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #environmentalportrait, #environmentalportraits
  • A „gas station“ sells fuel by the bottle in rural Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject
    128 2
    A „gas station“ sells fuel by the bottle in rural Burkina Faso. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject
  • The hands of Kalizetta Kinda felt like sandstone, the dry cracked surface of rock that backed far too long under a grudging sun without a drop of rain. Yet Kalizetta was only ten years old when I met her. Her mother had brought her to the gold mine since she was four and over the years Kalizetta became a kind of „independent contractor“. She was scrabbling the earth for rocks with traces of gold, breaking them down to smaller and smaller pieces, washing out the sand, 8 to 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days per week. When she was done for the day she and her friends waited in line to sell their yield to the mine, attentively watching every movement of the merchant and never leaving their eyes form the little crumbs of gold. The 80 cents she made on average per day made Kalizetta the main breadwinner in her family. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #globalization #subsidies #liberalization #debtcycle #gold
    81 2
    The hands of Kalizetta Kinda felt like sandstone, the dry cracked surface of rock that backed far too long under a grudging sun without a drop of rain. Yet Kalizetta was only ten years old when I met her. Her mother had brought her to the gold mine since she was four and over the years Kalizetta became a kind of „independent contractor“. She was scrabbling the earth for rocks with traces of gold, breaking them down to smaller and smaller pieces, washing out the sand, 8 to 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days per week. When she was done for the day she and her friends waited in line to sell their yield to the mine, attentively watching every movement of the merchant and never leaving their eyes form the little crumbs of gold. The 80 cents she made on average per day made Kalizetta the main breadwinner in her family. ––– WhiteGold documents the social and ecological consequences of global cotton farming. Its Burkina Dream chapter (documented on the ground in 2009 and updated in 2017) considers the hope and challenges of small scale organic farmers at the very moment Burkina Faso introduces genetically modified cotton nationwide. White Gold is part of the larger @landrushproject that investigates global agriculture since 2007.
–––
#landrushproject #waterseedland #bombayfc #burkinafaso #WhiteGoldProject #globalization #subsidies #liberalization #debtcycle #gold