Agricultural fair
Özdemir opens Green Week – epidemic overshadows the trade fair
Agriculture Minister Özdemir gives the starting signal for this year’s Green Week. Despite the limited animal show, the organizers expect around 300,000 visitors.
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) opened this year’s Green Week and referred to the difficult situation in the agricultural sector due to foot and mouth disease. “The anticipation of the Green Week, which I very much share, was interrupted in an almost dramatic way last Friday,” he said at the opening ceremony of the agricultural fair in Berlin, referring to the outbreak of the disease in Brandenburg.
The epidemic represents an immense challenge. The ultimate and common goal of all those involved must be to fight back the virus quickly and decisively, said Özdemir. This is probably the last Green Week for the Agriculture Minister in this role.
Focus on reducing bureaucracy
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) emphasized the importance of the Green Week as a dialogue forum for the industry and politics. “It will be about the situation of our farmers,” he said. They need room to breathe in order to continue to ensure high-quality products, emphasized Wegner with a view to reducing bureaucracy.
The new EU Agriculture Commissioner, Christophe Hansen, called for a generational change in European agriculture. “Less than 12 percent of farmers are under 40 years old,” he emphasized. “We have to make the profession attractive again.”
Fewer animals than usual due to the epidemic
Green Week opens for visitors this Friday. Around 300,000 people are expected by January 26th – although significantly fewer animals will be seen than usual due to the epidemic.
A total of around 1,400 exhibitors from around 60 countries are registered. The Green Fair is considered one of the largest trade fairs for food, agriculture and horticulture in the world.
dpa
Source: Stern
