become such a source of to commodity worldwide it s being snapped up by rich investors and agro companies such land grabs often take place in developing countries that s in eastern germany fields are being auctioned off too and that s hurting small farming . mario hi slant is an organic farmer out in the countryside near berlin his land is in what used to be communist east germany. he bought the property at an auction as state owned land was being privatized taking out a loan to do so. the government agency in charge of privatisation has been up and running since one thousand nine hundred two two years after east germany ceased to exist. the plan is to complete all sales by twenty thirty. properties always go to the highest bidder.