Local farmers face huge challenges, especially due to the recent massive increase in costs. With an aid package of 110 million euros, they must now be relieved of the burden and the domestic food supply secured.
If the costs for energy, fertilizer and animal feed explode by up to 30 percent, the approximately 150,000 local farmers will find themselves in existential trouble. “For many family businesses, all this is no longer possible. In light of the war in Ukraine, this ultimately jeopardizes security of supply,” said Paul Nemecek, director of the Lower Austrian Farmers’ Union.
Concerns About the “Green Deal”
The farmer now prominently drew attention to this drama by making a pilgrimage to the EU Parliament with a basket of valuable food from red-white-red farms and demanding a strategic supply guarantee in an impassioned speech in the Petitions Committee.
His concern, shared by Turkey’s EU mandate holder Alexander Bernhuber: the recent Brussels “Green Deal” will reduce Europe’s cereal acreage by 40 percent. Despite the shortfall, the Commission is still pushing for set-aside for conservation reasons.
Food safety “only works with farmers”
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig has put together a more than urgent aid package to rescue local farmers. “The food safety of the Austrians is my top priority. This is only possible with our farmers. Because it is they who put the food on our plate every day – even in times of crisis,” says the Tyrolean farmer.
Provincial Councilor Stephan Pernkopf welcomes the support for Lower Austria – the largest agricultural state with 38,000 family farms.
Source: Krone
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