Agriculture and farming is such a big part of the foundation of a country. Growing up in the United States I never considered how different agriculture might be in other countries. During my time abroad on UGA’s Spain study abroad program I learned so much about agricultural practices and how they are different from the ones in America. During our two-week stay, we visited all different types of farms including dairy farms, pig farms, and even a goat farm. What I found most fascinating about these farms was how environmentally friendly they were. It never occurred to me that such small-scale farms could have a negative carbon footprint. The Iberian Pig farm that we visited on our way to Granada was probably the most astounding of them all. The head farmer told us that it was all cycle, the animals, the plants and even the bugs all helped each other. The acorn trees that the pigs ate from were pollinated by the bees that they have on the property. Those same trees provided the pigs with their main source of food. When these pigs were out grazing they would then fertilize the grass around the property. The cows would then eat this grass and the cycle continues. It was really amazing to see how environmentally friendly they were when I wasn’t that familiar with any farms at home that could say the same. Another thing that was interesting about these farms was that they were all on a much smaller scale than the ones we have in the United States. One of the things that they told us was that all of the local farms are a part of a collective that buys their products and sells them at a larger scale and helps to keep the smaller businesses afloat. As someone who never really had much previous experience with farms at that level, it was very interesting to see how the country as a whole is able to support these farms. This trip was extremely informative and a great opportunity for those who wish to learn more about agriculture abroad.
