The energy crisis is also affecting agriculture and the food industry. The agriculture ministers agree on the systemic relevance – and call for clear signals from Berlin.
At their autumn conference, the federal and state agriculture ministers emphasized the systemic relevance of the food industry and farmers.
The sector needs clear statements about what happens in a gas shortage, said the chairman of the Conference of Agriculture Ministers (AMK) and Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister of Agriculture Sven Schulze on Friday in Quedlinburg. “When will which company be supplied with gas? The producers expect that, and the companies also expect it,” said the CDU politician. In a technical discussion with the Federal Network Agency one could discuss and get assessments.
The Federal Network Agency has once again made it clear that the gas storage facilities are currently relatively full, said Schulze. However, he was not satisfied with all the messages. One statement was that not only was it necessary to save gas, but that one had to hope for a mild winter. “It can’t be that we depend on the weather report to see if we’ll get through the winter well. That means the federal government has to deliver here.”
Food crafts suffer from high energy prices
In the conversation with the authority, it was worked out “very nicely” that the agriculture and food industry is not only systemically relevant, but also a protected customer to secure the basic food supply, said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister Till Backhaus (SPD). Cem Özdemir (Greens) also stated that he agreed with Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) that food trade companies should also benefit from the federal government’s energy cost containment program. These included bakeries, butcher shops and breweries. “Putin will not decide who bakes rolls and who doesn’t,” said the minister.
With regard to the restructuring of livestock farming in Germany, the agriculture ministers are demanding a “binding overall concept” from the federal government as quickly as possible. That must also be backed up with the appropriate funding, said AMK boss Schulze. In addition, the concept should therefore be developed with the participation of the federal states.
Signal expected from Berlin
Lower Saxony’s Agriculture Minister Barbara Otte-Kinast called for a clear signal from the federal government. “The livestock farms need long-term contracts that secure the compensation for the additional costs of higher animal welfare standards and give them planning security for the investment and depreciation phase,” said the CDU politician.
Many parties have long agreed on the measures to convert animal husbandry. The so-called Borchert Commission, an important expert commission, had already presented a concept for a gradual conversion to significantly higher standards in 2020. In particular, the financing issues are still unresolved.
“Anyone who says no to this funding is saying no to German meat in the long term, saying no to animal husbandry in Germany in the long term and thus saying yes to animal husbandry from somewhere else,” said Özdemir. He is happy about the “tailwind” that he takes with him from the ministerial meeting in the World Heritage city.
At the same time, farmers were protesting on the market square a few hundred meters from the conference venue. After their meeting, Özdemir and Schulze came to the rally. Özdemir was booed by farmers during his speech.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
