Farmers in New Zealand have a problem: they cannot operate profitably without harming the environment. In her master's thesis "Changing agriculture – Southland farmers’ struggles to reconcile neoliberal production demands with increasing environmental regulation", which was awarded the University of Freiburg's Environmental Research Prize, Anna Geiser investigated the tensions this causes.

The award was presented without ceremony - but the University of Freiburg did not refrain from honouring its honorary doctorates in 2020 and awarding prizes for outstanding work by its students and doctoral candidates. The Award Commission of the Environmental Research Prize also congratulates Anna Geiser warmly!

Further information on the prize can be found here.

In an interview with Alma & Georges, Anna Geiser talks about her work: the causes of the farmers' dilemma, possible solutions - and the situation in Switzerland: https://www3.unifr.ch/alma-georges/articles/2020/umweltsuenden-im-komplexen-spannungsfeld?lang=de