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“Peasants in the Resistance” - A tractor drives past the Reichstag building in Berlin.
© Carsten Koall/dpa
Rallies with tractors are currently occurring more frequently in the capital.
This time it's about a shift towards more gentle food production - and at the same time about secure nutrition in the world.
Berlin - For more environmental and animal protection, against genetic engineering and unfair prices: Several thousand people demonstrated for more sustainable agriculture at the Green Week agricultural trade fair in Berlin.
They marched loudly and accompanied by several dozen tractors to the Chancellery on Saturday.
Representatives of the “We are fed up!” alliance handed over a protest note to Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir.
Representatives of the “We're fed up!” alliance handed over a protest note entitled “Stop injustice and hunger - strengthen farmers' rights worldwide” to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir.
© Carsten Koall/dpa
The Green politician called for support for further steps, such as converting stables.
At a conference of agricultural ministers, representatives from 65 countries committed themselves to continuing the fight against hunger.
Özdemir: Secure nutrition contributes to peace
At the conference, Özdemir emphasized: “Secure nutrition is a contribution to peace.” Of the eight billion people on earth, one in ten goes to bed hungry.
This is an intolerable situation because it violates human rights.
The climate crisis, Russia's war against Ukraine and other conflicts exacerbated the situation.
Collaboration is about transferring knowledge and strengthening self-sufficiency.
Özdemir spoke out against general criticism that financial resources should not be used in the world but in Germany.
“By helping others, we help ourselves.” This contributes to making the world safer.
On the sidelines of the conference, Özdemir accepted demands from the demonstrators for an agricultural turnaround.
They also complained about the federal government's timid approach, for example when it came to financing the conversion of animal husbandry to better conditions.
Özdemir called for support to address long-standing issues - also as a consequence of the farmers' protests against the reduction of subsidies.
“Help me get things passed by a majority,” he shouted.
Özdemir pointed out that start-up financing for the conversion of animal husbandry and a state animal husbandry logo had already been decided.
Demo from SPD headquarters to the Chancellery
The demonstration for an agricultural turnaround began at the SPD headquarters.
According to the police, initially around 1,000 demonstrators and several dozen tractors went to the Chancellery, and more people joined them along the way.
According to the organizers, around 8,000 people gathered in front of the government headquarters.
The actions of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) were particularly criticized in speeches.
Horns, drums and bagpipe music accompanied the protest under the motto “Good food needs a future – for GMO-free, rural and environmentally friendly agriculture!”.
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Around 40 to 50 tractors had rolled in from the surrounding area since the morning, but license plates from Lower Saxony, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt could also be seen.
A huge inflated chicken was pulled along the streets on a cart.
One group carried an oversized earthworm that snaked its way along the protest route.
Banners read: “Farmers’ land belongs in the hands of farmers,” “Food is political!” and “Farmers before corporate interests.”
On a sheet on a tractor it was written in colorful letters: “Plow under right-wing turnips” - probably in reference to the fact that right-wing populists had recently called for participation in some farmers' protests.
Protest traditionally during Green Week
The alliance “We’re fed up!” called for the demonstration.
Its protest march has been taking place during Green Week for years.
The spectrum of participants ranged “from young to old”, and in addition to farmers, there were other groups such as beekeepers, said a spokeswoman.
There were also calls for “colorful agriculture”, less bureaucracy and a strengthening of democracy.
The group of sponsors also includes the environmental associations Nabu, BUND, Deutsche Umwelthilfe and the climate movement Fridays For Future.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir.
© Monika Skolimowska/dpa
Green Party leader Ricarda Lang wants to make trade more responsible for securing German agriculture.
“We want high-quality food to continue to be produced in Germany in the future - and that farmers can make a good living from their work,” she told the German Press Agency.
“If large retail chains can determine the prices for food through their market power alone and agricultural businesses are mercilessly exposed to this, it is simply unfair.”
Lang spoke out in favor of fixed purchase quantities and prices for milk.
Trade: No significant influence on prices
The trade turned against representations that it had a significant influence on agricultural prices.
The President of the Federal Association of the German Food Trade, Björn Fromm, explained that several buyers are involved in demand and thus in price formation.
Around 50 percent of the raw materials delivered are marketed abroad, so world market prices play a major role.
As a rule, raw materials would be sold to companies such as dairies or slaughterhouses and cutting plants for processing.
Direct contracts between trade and agriculture are rather rare.
Where they exist, “in our experience, they are valued by agriculture.”
dpa