a photography- and map based study on cattle, space and food storytelling

supported by Dreyers Fond

– ongoing –

Brittany, France / Jutland, Denmark

 

Terroir (French pronunciation: ​[tɛʁwaʁ] from terre, “land”) is the set of all environmental factors that affect a crop’s phenotype, including unique environment contexts, farming practices and a crop’s specific growth habitat.

 

Terroir is a photography- and map based research study on how the French philosophy of terroir could translate to the Jutland cowscape.

As a high school student I left Skåne county to spend a year in Saint-Malo, France. Saturday mornings were spent in the local marché with my host family. This half a day’s adventure was not so much about grocery shopping, as it was a conversation with the local farmers on their products, methods and philosophy in search of great taste. When dinner was served, it contained not only edible ingredients, but an original history. Nature, culture and production meet, and the history and conditions of place support and enrich the product.

Western Jutland distinguishes itself on the national map of Denmark, by being the most cow dense region in the country. However, todays’ Jutland cowscape is mostly an industrialized meat- and dairy production area, developed only to serve the conventional food market. Cows ought to be protagonists for future destination development of western Jutland.