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Agriculture Minister Özdemir: don't skimp on food
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has called for more appreciation for food and the work of farmers. He also wants to counteract a constant price war more strongly. "It's not okay and, above all, there's no alternative if the farmer gets just 22 cents from the euro that the customer spends on pork in the shop," said the Green politician. This is "simply a mess" and must be changed. He is not prepared to continue to accept "an exploitative system" that is at the expense of people, animals, the environment and the climate.
Özdemir made it clear that the new federal government wants to start a transition towards higher standards and at the same time ensure support for farmers with investments.
At the same time, it is important to ensure that everyone gets high-quality and affordable food.
Bringing this together is a major social goal.
The minister called for a factual debate: »We have to make progress.
And for that it would be good if we just left the excitement economy behind us.«
The goal of the coalition is a 30 percent share of organic farming - in the area, but also on the supermarket shelf, said Özdemir.
The use of pesticides in the fields should be reduced.
To this end, the coalition will “further develop” the EU agricultural payments allotted to Germany.
The minister went on to say that the coalition does not have to "reinvent the wheel" in agriculture and food policy.
The Borchert Commission on the future of livestock farming in Germany and then the Future Commission on Agriculture had “developed great ideas”.
Higher prices, fewer animals
The Future Commission for Agriculture was set up by Özdemir's predecessor, Julia Klöckner (CDU).
In July, representatives of around 30 organizations from agriculture, environmental and animal protection, science, business and consumer protection recommended a far-reaching restructuring of agriculture.
The Commission considers the financing to be a task for society as a whole;
she pleaded for state support, but also for higher food prices.
The animal population must therefore shrink significantly.
The Commission estimated the cost of the conversion at seven to eleven billion euros per year.
However, the costs of »business as usual« are much higher: 90 billion euros annually, also due to climate-damaging emissions, air and groundwater pollution and the loss of biodiversity.
mic/dpa-afx/AFP
