By Janet Kanters, IFAJ Communications committee chairperson
The German government is offering U.S. and Canadian journalists the opportunity to get acquainted with the role of green energy in German agriculture.
‘From Agro-Farming to Energy-Farming – the Role of Green Energy in German Agriculture’ offers a learning experience for journalists that will include a visit to Germany October 4-10, 2009.
The fellowship includes visits to Berlin, Leipzig, Kassel, Jühnde and other locations, and will focus on opportunities for farmers from the generation and use of green energy. Fellowship participants will have the chance to discuss these issues with officials of the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and with German politicians, experts and media representatives. Field trips will include visits to research centers and production plants for bioenergy, including biofuels such as bioethanol, biomass and wood pellets. Fellowship participants will also visit a solar cell production plant, an institute for wind energy, an agricultural training center and a ‘bioenergy village’.
While the trip is financed by the German government, it will be organized by a non-governmental institution in order to ensure the views offered do not reflect only official opinions.
The trip is designed for journalists who work for agricultural publications. Language will be English.
To apply for the fellowship, submit your name, address, media employer (or if freelancer, please indicate), professional CV or résumé, three samples of your work and the reasons you would like to participate. Information must be submitted by Sept. 3, 2009. Send all information via e-mail to enrico.brandt(at)diplo.de.
For more information, contact:
Enrico Brandt, German Embassy, enrico.brandt@diplo.de (202 298 4246)