Alimentum
Transhumar
A documentary by Dan Ortínez
Audiovisuals
Free
Although opposition is growing to industrial farming, and pro-animal movements are questioning all kinds of foods of animal origin, a lot of young people still see the profession of producing food as an ideological choice that should be defended and put into practice. Catalonia’s male and female shepherds are the best example of how to restore dignity to a profession that’s essential in looking after and consolidating our land.
Edu grazes his sheep and lives in the heart of Querol (Alt Camp) but also in Sant Boi (Baix Llobregat) where, together with Rubén, they run a woodland maintenance project to prevent wildfires. This year, after 7 years, instead of hiring a truck he decided to make the journey in the time-honoured way: on foot with his animals. Transhumance: in other words, moving the flock in tune with the seasons; to lower pastures in winter and higher ground in summer, to make the most of the grazing. This custom, which used to fill our thoroughfares many years ago, has now been lost. But Edu had been thinking about recovering this aspect of his profession for some time, to reclaim the paths that have been trampled by motorways, trains and housing estates. A journey of 100 kilometres in defence of the profession of shepherding and a rural world that’s alive and kicking.
Transhumar
Dan Ortínez, Aixina Produccions, 2018, 28’ 19’’, Spain. In Spanish with Catalan subtitles
Introduction by Gustavo Duch, together with the shepherd from the documentary, Eduard Balcells, and a representative of the Catalan association of female shepherds, “Ramaderes de Catalunya”.
Presenters: Gustavo Duch
This activity is part of Alimentum
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