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The statement at Eurosolar states: SUNfarming GmbH, nominated by our head office in Germany, was selected from a wide range of applications and nominations. Our jury chose SUNfarming for its holistic approach to combine the production of renewable energy and food.

Eurosolar annually honors role models and pioneers in the field of renewable energies. The prize, which has been awarded since 1994, is intended to honor the energy and inventiveness of local and regional players and to give new impulses for a regenerative and decentralized energy transition in Europe.

The award ceremony of the European Solar Prize 2019 took place on the 15th of November on the Belval Campus in Luxembourg. The Solar Prize will be awarded to cities, municipalities, architects, municipal and private companies, associations, organizations and cooperatives, journalists and citizens actively promoting renewable energies through their projects and initiatives. EUROSOLAR honors eight pioneering projects from six different countries.

Luxembourg Energy Minister Claude Turmes also attended the awards ceremony, as did Prof. Susanne Siebentritt from the University of Luxembourg, who presented the energy transition in Luxembourg in another segment.

In his welcome speech, Henri Kox, former Chairman of EUROSOLAR Luxembourg and newly appointed Luxembourg Housing Minister, said: "The energy transition is a huge challenge for our society. It can only be achieved if we pool our efforts and ideas, learn from each other and work together for change. Only in this way can we shape a sustainable future. I cordially invite you to seek inspiration from our Renewable Energy Pioneers."

Prof. Peter Droege, President of EUROSOLAR e.V., also underlined the importance of civic engagement for the energy revolution: "I am glad that today we have been able to honor people who are working on solutions for a local and regional energy transition. Whether church, industry or youth movement: all award winners have innovations in common that are practical and sustainable. They serve as trendsetting examples of renewable energies in Europe."

SUNfarming for a One world cooperation:
Combining the production of green electricity and food for and with local communities. Decentralisation and an unlimited supply are distinguishing features of renewables energies. The very nature of how renewables are produced predestines them to secure the energy demand in emerging economies, to strengthen local communities and to increase peoples’ independence from global markets and international fossil giants. The project developer and operator of photovoltaic plants SUNfarming shares our common goal towards 100% decentralized, renewable energies for all. It is cooperating with people in emerging economies to produce food and energy simultaneously and in a sustainable way. The SUNfarming programs consist of Food & Energy greenhouses and photovoltaic agriculture plants as well as educational Solar Training Centres, all of which are specifically designed for rural development.They combine training on food and green energy production and as a result create jobs and spread renewables. SUNfarming is cooperating with local educational institutions to offer not only their technology and expertise, but also sustainable education and a longlasting economic contribution. The SUNfarming Solar Training Centres in Peru, South Africa and Syria have already trained several hundred people in electrical engineering. Recently, SUNfarming has met the Albanian government for talks over opening a Solar Training Centre there. Renewable Energies have the potential to fight poverty, promote peace and create flourishing societies everywhere. With their Food & Energy programs, SUNfarming is cooperating successfully with local communities and takes part in creating sustainable economies worldwide.

More than 200 guests from politics and business, from universities and guests from Cevdetiye participated in the solemn ceremony. Among them were the mayor of Çevdetiye, Mr. Kadir Kaya and the mayor of Kadirli, Mr. Ömer Tarhan, the president of the Osmaniye Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Devrim Aksoy, Provincial Director of T.R. Osmaniye Provincial Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Mr. İbrahim Sağlam, rector of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Prof. Dr. Murat Türk, DOĞAKA Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency / General Coordinator, Mr. Erdinç Kadıoğlu.
The German Embassy in Ankara hosted Mr. Friedo Sielemann, Head of the Economic Department, as well as the Agency for Economic and Development from Berlin. Mr. Ian Lachmund, Senior Advisor and from Cologne DEG Bank Mr. David Arndt.
Guest of honor was Prince Lorenzo Kouami Folly Kuegah, Prince of Togo. 30 MWp Food & Energy Training Center are currently being developed in Togo, and a MoU has already been signed.

In their speeches, the German representatives of the German Embassy and DEG pointed out how important the developmental know-how transfer of German technologies is by means of training investments for German development aid. The Food & Energy Training Center in Turkey was realized with the help of KfW / DEG as Private Partnership Project.

Peter Schrum, founder of the SUNfarming Group and main shareholder, explains: "The focus of the German-Turkish training project is the training of Syrian refugees and Turkish residents with the help of local university teachers and our local training partners. The aim of the project is training as entrepreneurs in the organic food sector and as a photovoltaic technician for renewable energies. In the future, this Food & Energy Training project will serve as a Blue Print for further development investments in Turkey and Syria. The project also helps Syria and Turkey."

SUNfarming represents numerous German technology companies in the Food & Energy Centers with their innovative products and combines them with local technology. The number of trained people with an emphasis on entrepreneurship education through franchising and cooperatives is particularly high in this concept.

Many basic conditions had to be created, such as a well had to be drilled for the water supply of the plant. In order to carry out the training optimally, SUNfarming has also set up a training center with classroom and training equipment, directly behind the refugee camp. For this purpose, a shop was specially built so the produced eggs and vegetables can be sold together with items of daily needs.

25,000 m2 Food & Energy Training Center mean every year:
• approx. 250 training places in organic food cultivation and solar technology, 4 courses p.a.
• up to 125 tons of organic vegetables in training
• chicken breeding and egg production
• clean, renewable energy
• CO2 savings

Next week, SUNfarming will hold concrete project discussions with representatives of Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal and other African countries at the G20 summit compact with 30 MWp Food & Energy facilities with a potential of 30,000 jobs in each country. In West Africa alone, the training facilities have a potential of more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. These new, skilled jobs in organic food production including chickens and egg production, processing and marketing, as well as in the fields of solar technology and electric mobility are made possible.
100 MWp SUNfarming Food & Energy plants have the nutritional potential for more than 700,000 people in Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Ghana.

As part of the G20 initiative Compact with Africa (CwA), for the second time Chancellor Angela Merkel invited the twelve heads of state and government of the African Compact partner countries as well as South Africa to Berlin as G20 partner of the initiative for November 19, 2019.

On this occasion, the Africa Association of German Business, together with the Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative of German Business (SAFRI), organizes the "G20 Investment Summit 2019 - German Business and the CwA Countries" in Berlin. The investor conference is under the patronage of Chancellor Dr. Ing. Angela Merkel. The Chancellor will take part in the conference together with her guests and open it up solemnly.

The conference is aimed at high-ranking representatives of German companies and their partners from the African CwA partner countries. The focus is on lighthouse projects of German companies and economic reform projects in the CwA countries.

The event will feature companies with Africa commitments - and those with investment projects in CwA countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia), but also with projects in other countries - the opportunity to position oneself in a high-level political environment with strong media support and to make current activities visible.

"We are pleased to be presenting our Food & Energy Training Project for Togo to such an important audience at the G20 Summit. After nearly 20 years of project experience in Africa, we can say that only in a politically stable country with the help of reliable local partners such as Prince Lorenzo of Togo, European technologies, PPP partnerships with industry and long-term and reliable project management are safe investments guaranteed, "explains Peter Schrum, founder and main shareholder of the SUNfarming Group.

"With the help of KfW / DEG and GIZ, Food & Energy has been further developed over the last 12 years as PP partnership projects, so that it is economically scalable and can now be reliably implemented in Togo at 60ha with 30 MWp of energy output. The project can provide training and a job for up to 30,000 people within just 10 years", continues Peter Schrum.

More than 250 guests from politics, business and universities participated in the solemn laying of the foundation stone in Antsirabe on 19. October 2019.

The ceremony was opened with the speech of the Minister of Higher Education, Professor Blanche Nirina Richard and Minister of Energy Mr. Vonjy Andriamanga. The President of Madagascar, His Excellency Mr Andry Rajoelina, emphasized in his speech the great importance of the Food & Energy project for Madagascar, both to support the region in power generation and to educate people in the innovative areas of Food & Energy.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country's economy is largely based on agriculture, mining, fishing and textile production. The average Madagascan earns only about US $ 1 per day and 70% of the Malagasy live below the World poverty line. Almost half of Madagascar's children under five are malnourished. According to the WHO and UNICEF, access to clean drinking water is less than one in two islanders. About one third of the population are illiterate. Among other things food and oil are imported.

The first SUNfarming 5 MW Food & Energy Training Center on Madagascar offers highly interesting perspectives for development policy

5 megawatt Food & Energy Training Center on 10 ha means per year:
• 1,000 training places in organic farming and solar technology
• up to 500 tons of organic vegetables
• chicken breeding and egg production
• 9.0 million kWh of clean energy
• 7,500,000 kg CO2 savings

40 hectares of SUNfarming Food & Energy Trainigsanlagen are used 50% for the cultivation of vegetables.
For the power supply of the Institute of Antsirabe, SUNfarming will install a 10 kWp battery-powered island system.
For the first time, the classrooms used for lectures receive light and electricity.

The Food & Energy Training Center has great potential to train students and those interested in the following areas:

· Photovoltaics and self-sufficient energy technologies;
· Production of organic vegetables;
· Chicken farming and egg production
· Agricultural practices and technologies;
· Food processing and packaging;
· Food Marketing and Market Management;
· Aquaponics (Water and Hydroculture)
· Practical experience and competence development.

"We see the cooperation with the university as a development center for other universities and partners. We've signed a contract with the University of Madagascar and the Ministry of Education, "explains Peter Schrum, principal shareholder and founder of SUNfarming.
"SUNfarming will help train up to 20,000 students and apprentices in organic food and solar technology over the next 10 years.
"The benefits for citizens and communities are endless! This project offers a strong training component, sustainable food and energy production and job security for those who need it most," adds Peter Schrum.

"Dorian" - one of the strongest ever recorded tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean - caused storm surges with five and a half to seven meter high waves. The storm raged over the Bahamas for three days. Wind gusts reached speeds of up to 350 km / h. According to the Red Cross, about 13,000 houses were destroyed.

Every year, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean are hit by severe tropical storms. It is therefore essential for sustainable management that our training facilities withstand these catastrophes.

In the Bahamas, our hurricane resistant SUNfarming SP Food & Energy substructures and glass / glass solar panels with special fixings have proven this in an impressive way. The photos of our employees clearly show that the greenhouse design details of the Food & Energy training facility developed by SUNfarming rightly bears the title hurricane-resistant.

Dena (German Energy Agency, article: Flagship Project SUNfarming Hybrid Center Bahamas)

SUNfarming Hybrid Training Center in the Bahamas

The Hybrid Training Center will demonstrate the conditions for developing an economic model that will contribute to the independence of the Caribbean countries in relation to fossil fuels, the environment and the environment in a model facility dedicated to the topics of SF Food & Energy and fuel efficiency management at bioltec Improving the quality of life of their inhabitants.
Some benefits for society and the environment in numbers:

10,000 kWh of solar energy
10-15 kg of tomatoes per plant
Up to 90% water savings
50 employees
40,000 kWh of electricity CHP
16,000 liters of UCO converted into biofuel
80,000 kWh of thermal energy CHP
40 t of CO2 savings
95% greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil diesel
Typically 50% less toxic exhaust gases (with similar NOx)
Training in hydroponics, PV technology, electromobility and water saving in agriculture
Local and independent domestic food and energy production

The Caribbean region is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels to generate energy, resulting in higher CO2 emissions and electricity prices of up to 0.40 USD / kWh. These prices prevent growth in many economies in the region and lead to high business costs.
Another important issue in the Caribbean is food security, where up to 80% of the food consumed has been imported.
SUNfarming Agro-Solar greenhouses or as modified free-field plants and biofuels made of 100% waste oil (UCO) are combined to form a hybrid system. The same land area is used for the production of food, electricity and heat energy. Jobs will be created in agriculture and in renewable energies. At the same time it serves as a training center for students and interested locals for e.g. electromobility, photovoltaics and combined heat and power generation and form the technological basis for capacity building, research and technology transfer.
Emissions, energy and food costs are reduced, and future generations will be informed about the benefits of the hybrid system.

Since 2016, we have flocks of sheep for grazing our solar systems in Mecklenburg Vorpommern in use.
Prerequisite for the functionality of the solar modules is the prevention of shading by the plant growth. The regular care of the vegetation by sheep grazing prevents shading of the modules. In contrast to mechanical mowing, there is no dust or damage caused by falling rocks. Checking the shepherd at irregular times also reduces the risk of theft.
SUNfarming has had good experiences with this environmentally friendly and gentle care of the areas. SUNfarming has created 1000 hectares of PV solar plants over the past 15 years and these areas must all be mown.

"For me, the consistently short surface is better for the service, because otherwise was always mowed when the grass was already knee high and a come through was rather exhausting. I am often approached by residents or walkers, who always tell me that they like the sheep very well, explains Marco Ströde, SUNfarming technician for service and maintenance.

The shepherd also benefits from this secure pasture, which has already been fitted with a wire mesh fence.
The modules are a good shade dispenser and windscreen and the substructures provide shelter for lambing sheep. The areas are unloaded as no fertilizers and pesticides are used.

Conservation welcomes the dual use of land, the extensive grazing has positive effects on biodiversity, the practice of the pasture pasture sheep serve other animal and plant species as a means of transport and increase biodiversity.