ABUNDANT LAND is a documentary about a Hawaiian community on Moloka’i challenging the biotech industry’s use of the island to test genetically engineered seeds. Biotech corporations including Monsanto and Mycogen are depleting Moloka’i’s topsoil and fresh water while contributing to dust storms that spread pesticides into the surrounding communities and ocean. ABUNDANT LAND also offers a historical look into the political underpinnings of chemical intensive farming in Hawaii while portraying the rich legacy of traditional Hawaiian land management. The documentary follows dedicated residents as they seek transparency about the testing being done on their island and utilize permaculture—an ecological design system rooted in ancient Hawaiian farming practices—as an alternative to chemically dependent agriculture.

Presented By: Natasha Florentino

Saturday, September 17th | 8:00 – 10:15 PM | Bioregional Hub

Natasha Florentino is a documentary filmmaker and video producer. She recently completed Abundant Land: Soil, Seeds and Sovereignty, a feature length documentary about a Hawaiian community challenging the biotech industry’s use of their island to test genetically engineered seeds. In 2014 she was selected as a director of photography to participate in the POV Hackathon for the project, RETURN OF THE NATIVE, an immersive, interactive documentary for iPad about native Hawaiian forests on the Island of Hawaii rarely seen or visited. In 2008 she co-directed and filmed REZONING HARLEM, a documentary about the opposition to the NYC rezoning of 125th street. Natasha’s work strives to capture the strength and resiliency of communities who have come up against enormous odds. She has directed and filmed short documentaries for NGOs and the non-profit sector about community development issues and the often‐conflicting intersection between private interests and community needs.

2016 Convergence Workshop: Abundant Land: Soil, Seeds and Sovereignty. A documentary film screening