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RHIZOBACTERIA
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About this project
A documentary to discover syntropic agriculture. A journey across the Iberian Peninsula cultivating change.
Show list of needs
Task
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Minimum | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
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Personnel hiring (5 people for a month and a half)
Filming tasks, sound recording, direction, comunication and interviews.
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£ 7,452 | |
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Illustration and design
Corporate image of crowdfunding campaign, poster and t-shirt designed by the artist Pedro Perles.
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£ 745 | |
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Goteo fee
5% of the total amount raised in goteo.org.
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£ 563 | |
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Wire transfer fees
Fees applied by the bank to carry out money transactions.
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£ 83 | |
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Editing
Professional editing.
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£ 2,898 | |
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Sound and original soundtrack postproduction
Sound design and professional soundtrack.
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£ 3,312 | |
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Color grading
Documentary professional colorization.
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£ 2,898 | |
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Graphic design
Title credits design and motion graphics.
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£ 2,898 | |
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Translation and subtitling
Translation into English and Portuguese, as well as subtitling for people with hearing difficulties
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£ 2,484 | |
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Promotion
Advertising and communication costs.
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£ 828 |
Materyal
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Minimum | Optimum |
|---|---|---|
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Production and shipping of rewards
T-shirt purchase and printing, risograph printing, packaging and shipping.
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£ 1,490 | |
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Transporte
Fuel cost and tolls.
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£ 828 | |
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Professional equipment
Rental of extra audiovisual material such as lighting, filters, cameras, drones and microphones.
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£ 1,259 | |
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Festivals candidacies
Festivals fees.
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£ 1,242 | |
| Total | £ 12,421 | £ 28,982 |
Mahalagang
Karagdagang
General information
This documentary strives to follow a one-of-a-kind journey that 3 sustainable farmers will make across the Iberian peninsula, spreading the seeds of syntropic agriculture to create a movement of more conscious farming. This agricultural philosophy and practice seeks to produce food without compromising the health of ecosystems, whilst protecting and promoting biodiversity. This adventure promises to be an enormous source of inspiration and hope in the face of the great environmental and social challenges we are currently facing.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SYNTROPIC FARMING?
You are probably sick and tired of hearing about the degradation of soils, the loss of biodiversity and extinction of species, the toxic waste traveling up the food chain and the overexploitation of the Earth's increasingly scarce resources. What you may not know is that there are alternatives to the status quo. It just requires a change in perspective.
Syntropic agriculture offers a radical change of vision by ceasing to place human beings at the center of the world and instead understand their role as part of a wider ecosystem, leaving space for the rest of living beings, with whom we have a relationship of absolute interdependence.
Syntropic agriculture (also described as successional agroforestry), was developed in the 80's by the Swiss farmer and researcher Ernst Götsch. It takes as a reference the natural processes of the forest, considering the relationships between all the different species that make up the forest, while respecting the ecological succession of each. In a forest, each element, from the smallest and microscopic to the largest and most ancient, fulfills a specific function. This principle of inclusion is key to syntropic farming. Additionally, the more species that inhabit the biological community, the richer and more fertile it becomes. Cooperation between species is the mechanism by which life thrives, and is another building block of syntropic farming. Curiously, this is the opposite of what conventional agriculture proposes.
Over the last decades, syntropic agriculture has become a global movement adopted by those willing to work with nature not against it, using a model where sustainability and profitability do not have to be weighed on opposite sides of the scale.
ABOUT THE AGROFORESTRY EXPEDITION
Jaime Otero Paramo, is one of the farmers behind this initative. Jaime trained with Ernst Götsch in Portugal and some years later he decided to create his own regenerative project at the Estación Agroecológica de Vieiro (Lugo), with the aim of putting this important philosophy into practice. In a short time the project has achieved spectacular results. His farm is a festival of biodiversity and a reference for regenerative agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula.
Passionate about this cause, Jaime wants to spread the message further and thus decided to make a trip around the Iberian Peninsula to share his experience and knowledge, while inspiring more of us to become part of this change of perspective. The trip will be an opportunity to meet and connect with other initiatives that are also committed to the regeneration and conservation of life, and to learn ways to implement this type of agriculture in the diverse contexts of Iberian geography.
In addition to Jaime Paramo, the team is completed by Sergio Olaya and Diogo Santos, two experts in syntropic agriculture with complementary perspectives and backgrounds.
Sergio Olaya (Brazil), agroforester and traditional Chinese medicine therapist. Has been implementing and managing agroforestry systems for the last 15 years. Extensive experience in ecosystems focused on crops such as coffee and banana. Specialist in agroforestry pruning at altitude.
Diogo Santos (Portugal) went from nature sports to the regeneration of ecosystems through agroforestry, syntropy and permaculture, dedicating himself since then to training and initiating people in the field.
THIS NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED!
Yes! That's also what we thought when we found out about this trip. SINTRÓPICA is the documentary we want to create to record this incredible adventure.
We don't just want to tell a good story, we are committed to tell a great one!
Our aim is to shed light on a thriving movement and unify a global community of people and projects dedicated to promoting more sustainable farming practices. We hope to be the wind of change that inspires more people to take action towards the ecological emergency and produce healthy food without compromising our precious planet.
IT WILL BE FINANCED AS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT OR IT WON'T HAPPEN AT ALL
Learning from the philosophy of this agricultural movement, we realize that it is very difficult for us to carry out this project alone. However, once again, diversity and cooperation is the most viable solution! Crowdfunding is a magnificent example of this principle. Even the smallest contribution will be a valuable nutrient to make this dream flourish.
On October 2nd the adventure will begin in the charming little Galician village of Vieiro, where the first workshop will take place. Our genuine conviction in this project and the cause that it supports is such that we have decided to self-fund the first part of the journey. We have gathered the dream team of dedicated professionals to become part of this, as this is clearly not a one-man show.
The production of a high-quality documentary involves many factors, including the hard work of several people over 6 weeks, professional equipment (cameras, sound, drones, etc..), travel and local expenses. And this is only the first phase. Then comes the second half of the journey with the editing, colour and sound correction, translation, promotion and distribution costs. The adventure has just begun, but we are truly convinced by the collaborative process of bringing this documentary film to fruition... Together!
Will you be part of this adventure?
Main features and goals of the crowdfunding campaign
The journey will begin next 4th of October in Vieiro (Lugo), and will turn around the peninsula clockwise, making stops in many diferent spots, such us Cantabria, Lleida, Tarragona, Valencia, Almería, Alentejo, etc. In each stop the three experts in syntropic agriculture will organize courses and encounters. The trip has the intention of showcasing the solutions, best practices, information and resources from around the Iberian peninsula. The tour intends to unify a global community of over 250 people interested and dedicated to promoting more sustainable farming practices, making this movement dynamic yet permeable. We will be visiting a range of projects, from small scale family farms, to large regenerative farms, placing special emphasis on documenting this diversity of encounters and realities, with the intention of making this documentary as relevant as possible to different contexts and realities.
This film will last around 50 minutes. It will show what happens at the various stages of this journey: capturing the different projects, people and interactions that will be unearthed along the way. Each bringing their unique experiences and insights around what it means to work in harmony with nature. We will also have access to the magic that happens in between each stop, which will infuse our documentary with the reality of human to human connections. We will seek to portray the character of the landscapes and environments, to treat nature as another character. And there will be many road shots, of course, after all it will be a road movie!
The production will be an opportunity to make visible an emerging movement, still very little documented yet of vital importance in the face of climate urgency and food sovereignty. We want to bring this practice closer to the people’s reality and make it accessible to anyone with an interest in nature. Syntropic agriculture requires some ingredients that everyone can put into practice: Respect, imagination and conscious interaction with our surroundings. As human beings, we have the opportunity to reflect, to solve problems and create solutions in favour of all living beings. And then maybe our work doesn’t simply become a means to an end, but an expression of our deepest sense of service to the world we live in.
TIME FRAME
The shooting of SINTRÓPICA will take place during the month of October 2022 and the first half of November 2022, which is the duration of the caravan trip. The post-production will take place during the spring and we hope to release the film by June 2023. We will keep everyone who participated in this campaign updated with the most relevant news about the progress of the production and post production.
Why this is important
WHY MAKE A DOCUMENTARY ON SYNTROPIC AGRICULTURE?
- We need a new vision for the future! A great story gives us that vision and connects us. We want to show you that you can be part of that reality too.
- We want to amplify the voices of the many projects and individuals who are already contributing to creating a new narrative for the planet.
- We want to generate reflection and awareness around the way we currently relate to our planet and how we can start supporting and engaging in agriculture practices that work with, instead of against, nature
- It is a topic known by a few adventurous farmers but remains largely unknown in the mainstream public. It needs more visibility!
- Syntropic farming has proven to work, and it can address the biggest social and environmental challenges of our time.
WHO IS OUR AUDIENCE FOR "SINTRÓPICA"?
Our documentary wants to speak to all of you, since the conservation of the planet and the production of healthy food and living soils are issues that concern us all. It especially addressed to you, if :
- You love nature and seek to protect it.
- You are interested in farming and are looking for ways to practice it without damaging the environment.
- You live in the countryside and are looking for new perspectives to rural communities living.
- You want to be part of a sustainable ecological change and take action on it.
- You want to be informed about relevant solutions that tackle our current environmental crisis.
- You are inspired to connect with nature from a point of view that is not merely productive, but that is also supportive.
- Children and grandchildren of the rural emigration who want to reconnect with their roots.
- Lovers of documentary films that contribute to greater social and environmental change
- You are part of an organization or institution that strives to support a movement that promote ecological and social transformation.
We are calling on people who feel that there has to be another way of doing things, who consider the health of our ecosystems and our planet a priority, not least because our own health and wellbeing depends on it! The opportunity for change lies in the small actions of many. If you also think that way: welcome back to nature.
REWARDS
There are different ways you can help us make this possible.
First and foremost you can spread the word about this campaign and tell everyone about it by sharing the link to this campaign to friends, family and colleagues.
While you´re here, you could also make a donation to help us reach our fundraising goal. In exchange we've put together a range of exciting rewards, as a small gesture to say a big THANK YOU! Just like in any agroforestry systems, the role of each individual (big or small) is vital for the big picture to thrive. That's why we have named each donation tier according to different food forest habitants. Below is a sample of the different rewards you could receive by supporting our cause. We have carefully chosen to use local creative studios for the production of each reward, minimizing the impact caused by transportation and supporting small companies that work hard to offer a top quality product.
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Agroforestry kit with a collection of the seeds gathered along our journey, so you can begin to create your own agroforestry nest at home.
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The book "Syntropic agriculture according to Ernst Götsch", is an essential manual if you're looking to delve into the principles and practices of syntropic farming. Up to this date, it has only been published in Portuguese, but through this campaign you will be able to order the first printed edition in Spanish and English, which will be available in spring 2023.
- T-shirt with the illustration made by Spanish artist Pedro Perles. It is made with 100% organic cotton and certified by the Fair Wear Foundation FWF, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. You can choose the size you want. When the campaign ends we will contact you to know your choice (Printing: Hiber Nando, Bilbao).
- A3 risograph print with the illustration made by Spanish artist Pedro Perles. The reward will be made with a very particular process that gives an organic look to the prints with its “perfect imperfections”. Each copy acquires its own particular touch. In addition, the inks are made with soybean or rice oil base, and hardly generates waste, which makes it one of the most environmentally friendly techniques. Its size will be A3, printed in 3 inks and on 100% recycled aShiro Echo 200g paper (Printing: Another-Press, Bilbao).
- Silky F-180 folding saw, a must-have tool to put into practice some of the techniques of syntropic agriculture.
- A syntropic agriculture course given by Jaime Otero Páramo, during 2 days for 15 people in any corner of the Iberian geography. This is a reward designed especially for organizations and entities.
Miguel García Orive is the screenwriter, director and camera operator of the documentary. A dedicated visionary with a foot firmly on the ground, his determination, and passionate nature ensures that his breakthrough ideas materialize into inspiring new narratives. In 2010 he made a bicycle trip from Barcelona to India, which he documented through the photobook "El viaje interminable". A transformative experience that helped shape his sensitive and humane view of the world. He studied photography and cinematography at ESCAC (Barcelona). In 2020 Miguel created Konzéntrika Films, with the aim of using audiovisual language to galvanize people into action and address wider social and environmental issues.
Eleonore van Wonterghem is in charge of the production, interviews, and general wellbeing of the crew. A biologist by training, since childhood she has had a deep yearning to make the world a fairer and more liveable place. Her deep sense of service has taken her to different corners of the globe, where she has worked to support different social and environmental initiatives. Before settling in Bilbao, she spent 4 years in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where her work supported the revitalization of traditional indigenous health systems, exposing her to the harsh realities and threats caused by the destruction of our planet. Trained as a transformative coach and passionate about supporting individual and collective change, Eleonore has a great gift in connecting with people, an indispensable quality to carry out this documentary.
Kemen is in charge of sound recording. He studied at the Escuela Superior Verge de la Mercé (Barcelona). With a long experience in social documentaries with the production company Connectats and Espai Jove Garcilaso, following a few years in the world of fiction, advertising and television, he now returns to his favorite genre: the documentary. Lover of nature and simple life, he finds in this project a motivation for his work to contribute to making the world a better place.
Phelipe Eizaguirre Irujo is the second videographer for this documentary. His work is largely focused on the documentation of nature and outdoor sports . An insatiable climber and runner, he has made several expeditions to the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Himalayas. Used to winter challenges and a great lover of nature, he did not hesitate to join this new adventure on the road, largely motivated by the ecological nature of the project.
Social commitment
Climate action
Syntropic farming offers a new way to cultivate food while creating biodiversity and generating resources. It is a growing global movement which fosters a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, as well as a truly powerful tool to take action against the effects of the climate crisis and the degradation of our food habitats.
Sustainable Development Goals
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Good Health and Well-Being
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.
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Sustainable Cities and Communities
There needs to be a future in which cities provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.
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Responsible Production and Consumption
Responsible Production and Consumption
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Climate Action
Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.
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Life On Land
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss