Working in sustainable agriculture abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?
- What is working in sustainable agriculture abroad like?
- What are the reasons for working in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- What skills and motivations do you need to work in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- What are the best countries and locations to work in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- What are the risks of working in sustainable agriculture abroad, and are you insured against those risks?
What is working in sustainable agriculture abroad like?
- Working in sustainable agriculture means participating on organic farms, permaculture projects, agroforestry initiatives, or farms transitioning from conventional to ecological.
- This work focuses on soil health, diversity, fewer chemicals, and greater collaboration with nature.
- You can volunteer through exchange programs, complete an internship as a student or work temporarily or seasonally as a paid employee.
- Duties: Your duties depend on the season, the land, and the farm, but could include:
- Planting, sowing, weeding, and harvesting.
- Composting, mulching, and soil improvement.
- Animal care (small-scale, often using natural methods).
- Working within permaculture or agroforestry systems.
- Assisting with cheesemaking, jammaking, or processing crops.
- Help in the kitchen, housekeeping, or hosting guests (on farms with accommodations).
- In short: hands-on and learning by doing. You'll often work alongside local farming families, communities, or international volunteers—with the farm's daily rhythm as a guide.
What is working in organic farms abroad like?
- Organic farms worldwide hire volunteers who want to contribute to agriculture without chemicals and heavy machinery.
- Farms transitioning from conventional to organic can often use extra hands.
- There are also communes and communities focused on sustainability.
- Some are open and welcoming, others might have with somewhat alternative, radical, or esoteric ideas, so always investigate carefully beforehand whether the atmosphere is a good fit for you.
- Please note: life on a farm can be more primitive than you are used to (think compost toilets, simple rooms, vegetarian cuisine, early rising).
What are the reasons for working in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- To boost your sense of engagement: sometimes you'll work intensively on a farm for extended periods with the same people, often sharing a room with them. You have to love that, but you'll also make lifelong friends.
- To make the world around you more sustainable: you'll directly contribute to agriculture that's better for the soil, animals, and ecosystems. This allows you to effectively combine work and interests.
- To become more result-oriented: your work has visible outcomes that teach you practical goal-setting.
- To gain new experiences: during your stay on a farm and when you go to work, you'll experience much more than if you were to travel alone.
- To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar surroundings, you'll discover more quickly what you're actually capable of and what you truly want. working outdoors in a new rhythm helps you learn how you function outside your comfort zone.
- To test your environmental awareness: living and working in rural areas allows you to experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way than, for example, working in tourism.
What skills and motivations do you need to work in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- Professionalism: You often have to work hard and diligently, which is why the average slacker usually doesn't last long on a farm.
- Flexibility: Weather conditions, animal behavior, and plant growth don't always go according to plan, so your flexibility will often be called upon.
- Collaboration: Learning to work with a group of seasonal workers or with the farm family will always be necessary.
- Creative and solution-oriented thinking: Things get lost or broken, so being creative is very useful!
- Networking skills: This is more about finding a job. It's not always easy, so chatting at markets and hostels helps enormously.
What are the best countries and locations to work in sustainable agriculture abroad?
- Australia: working holiday, agricultural work, fruit picking
- Canada: working holiday, agricultural work
- Chile: fruit picking, livestock farming
- France: agricultural work, fruit picking, grape picking
- Italy: agricultural work, fruit picking
- Ecuador: tropical agriculture, coffee, cocoa, and permaculture
- New Zealand: working holiday, fruit picking, agricultural work
- Spain: olive picking, viticulture
- South Africa: ecolodges, ranches
What are the risks of working in sustainable agriculture abroad, and are you insured against those risks?
- What are the risks of working in sustainable agriculture?
- The risk of accidents on farms is higher than with many other types of work:
- Wounds caused by knives, pruning shears, machetes, tools, equipment, and machinery.
- Sprains from uneven ground.
- Sunburn, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.
- Back problems from heavy or repeated lifting.
- Allergic reactions to bees, plants, and pollen.
- Bites from dogs, goats, and sheep.
- Trampling wounds from horses or cows.
- Working in extreme heat or cold.
- Tropical areas: dengue, chikungunya, and malaria.
- Unsafe, unstable buildings or barns.
- Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
- Good insurance is therefore crucial to cover all these risks.
- A number of specialized insurance policies offer options for (temporary) paid work abroad that carries higher risks, such as working on a farm.
- Are you insured while working in sustainable agriculture?
- There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad. See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.
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