• Director(s):

    BALL (Marc), ALLEGRA (Cécile)

  • Producer(s):

    ARTE GEIE, MEMENTO FILMS

  • Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2013

  • Language(s):

    German, French

  • Rights:

    TV, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET

The black, high-yielding, fertile soil, known as “chocolate chernozem”, is one of the richest lands in Europe. It is also one of the cheapest. It is located on the plains of South East Romania.

With its 15 million hectares of farmland, Romania is once again on the point of becoming the granary of Europe. In 2014, the land market will be liberalised and all European citizens will then be able to buy land in Romania. In principle, foreigners are forbidden to buy land in Romania until the end of 2013. However, they get round this ban by creating a company under Romanian law.
 
On the Romanian side, there is a rumble of revolt. The NGO Eco Ruralis recently submitted a damning report to Brussels denouncing the monopolising of the land. 800,000 hectares are already in the hands of foreign companies - a figure that is constantly increasing.