Samso's farmers move toward organic farming and away from fossil fuels
On a small Danish island of 114 square kilometers (44 square miles), sustainability and renewable energy seem almost common place. Yet, Samso cannot be called anything but unique. Seven years ago, it became the聽. Now, 16 years after first deciding to transition towards clean energy and sustainability, the traditional farming communities on Samso are moving towards organic farming and an entirely fossil fuel free future.
In response to the聽聽in 1997, the聽聽announced a competition for local communities or islands to submit plans for 100 percent self-sufficiency through renewable energy. Despite winning this competition, Samso鈥檚 future was not clear. The master plan still needed the support of Samso鈥檚 residents, most of whom were conservative farmers.聽
For Soren Hermansen, architect of the island鈥檚 transformation and director of Samso鈥檚聽, this meant using a grassroots approach to educate citizens about the benefits of a sustainable future. Through public meetings, featuring copious amounts of free beer, Hermansen garnered support for Samso鈥檚 master plan.
As a result,聽聽now generate 100 percent of the island鈥檚 electricity, while聽聽generate enough renewable energy to offset the carbon produced by the island鈥檚 transportation and agricultural sector. With wind turning on their lights, Samsings use聽聽for their dwellings.聽
Samso鈥檚 bottom up approach to energy resulted in this success. The wind turbines, solar thermal panels, and biomass heating plants belong to farmers or the municipality. While critiques often cite the noise and aesthetic disruptions caused by wind turbines, Samsings see beauty in the turbines that produce electricity and income for the island. Hermansen聽,"if you own a share in a wind turbine it looks better, it sounds better. It sounds like money in the bank." Ten percent of residents own part of a turbine and its profits, while barley farmers generate additional revenue by selling their straw by-product to the district heating plants.聽
Despite the global recognition received by Samso for their energy transformation, residents still express fear for the future. Most of the young people raised on Samso do not intend to remain on the island and have no interest in farming.聽聽to Hermansen, "my son, who is 16 years old, thinks it is dead here and lives in Copenhagen; for the survival of the island we need more jobs and a better local economy." At the same time, the cost of land on Samso remains high, making it unappealing to young individuals who might consider moving to Samso.
A focus on organics, however, might just provide the solution to this problem. Most farms continue to rely on pesticides, but a growing emphasis on organics could, if accompanied by financial aid, draw in young farmers. In 2012, organic farmers on Samso and visiting experts established聽聽to provide financial and educational resources to farmers and consumers. Organic Samsoe seeks to establish a foundation that can buy land to then lease to organic farmers of all generations.
Yet, this forward thinking, wind-blown, organic-growing island is not done. Samso now hopes to achieve聽聽by phasing out the oil, gas, and coal used in their transportation and agriculture sector. Already lauded as a shining example of the importance of renewable energy in creating self-sufficient communities and in helping transition farmers towards sustainable practices, achieving this new goal will only continue to help Samso become the healthy, farsighted community it envisions.聽
