Berlin’s Green Week began with the President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, drawing attention to the immense damage caused by the outbreak of the African Swine Fever. “The outbreak of this disease is a very severe blow to our farming businesses due to the significant economic consequences” Rukwied told the Bayern Media Group. He added, “An important message is that the virus poses no threat to human health. It is completely unproblematic for the consumer.”
According to Rukwied, the consequences for the farmers are “not yet foreseeable, but the damages will be immense.” Currently, farmers are losing the opportunity to export to non-EU markets, such as the UK, for example. “Therefore, it is particularly important to keep the markets within the European Union open and to restore access, especially to the UK. It is now crucial to take all measures to contain the disease with all force. This is now Priority Number One” said the farmers’ representative. He expects “decisive action from the federal and state governments.”
Despite this, the agricultural sector is approaching the Green Week with optimism. “We will be discussing agriculture and food security with many top politicians from Germany and the world. For consumers, it is a unique opportunity to try out new food trends, to taste, to smell” explained the farmers’ president. “The Green Week is a real experience.” In addition, customers can directly inform themselves about the sustainable production of domestic food at the farmers’ stands.
Rukwied demands an agricultural policy turnaround from the new government. “We need a genuine restart – not just for agriculture. We must get out of the constant crisis mode, must set our strengths confidently, and must finally free the economy from the massive blocking bureaucracy.” As the main demands of the farmers, he listed “planning security and competitiveness within the EU” including, for example, the increase of the agricultural diesel refund to its previous level. “Furthermore, we must give the farmers a perspective, especially in the current situation, and finally enable the overall societal desired transformation of animal husbandry” he said in the background of the African Swine Fever.