Via Campesina Austria

Role in project: Participant in WPs 2, 3, 5, 7 & 8

OeBV-Via Campesina Austria was founded in 1974 and serves as a grass roots representation for Austrian mountain farmers, small and medium scale farmers whose interests are often in opposition to mainstream agrarian policies; active and critical player in the field of Austrian agrarian politics by underlining the importance of small and medium scale peasant production; lobbying and information for farmers and other interest groups; regional educational work; emphasizing bottom-up strategies (e.g. workshops, lectures, seminars);  workshops on current topics related with agriculture, agrarian policies and regulations. Since 1993 OeBV-Via Campesina Austria is part of the peasant, landless and rural women’s movement La Via Campesina and the European Coordination Via Campesina.

Profile of staff members working on the project:

• Karin Okonkwo-Klampfer studied agriculture, specialising in international development. She is managing directrice at OeBV - Via Campesina Austria, coordinator of adult education courses, lecturer at the  University of Applied Life Sciences in Vienna (International Development Cooperation).
• Monika Thuswald studies landscape planning, specialising in municipal planning, regional management and consumer producer networks. 
  Previously, she was working in urban renewal and neighbourhood management. She is currently a project manager at OeBV - Via Campesina Austria and also takes part in a collective retailing local organic products in Vienna.
• Irmi Salzer studied landscape planning, working and researching on cultural landscape, regional management, alternative economy and organic agriculture. She is currently press, public relations and lobbying officer of OeBV - Via Campesina Austria.