While food affordability tops the list of concerns of European citizens, some politicians – like Spain’s right-wing prime ministerial candidate – seem to not look at prices that much (or even set foot in a food market).
This is not groundbreaking – it only takes semi-regular trips to the supermarket to realise that food prices have skyrocketed, just like production costs for many farmers.
In a televised interview in prime time on Wednesday (28 June), Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, candidate for right-wing Partido Popular in the upcoming national elections in Spain, said that the “price of the orange per kilo” is €0.12.
He was referring to inflation and the ‘plastic tax’ – actually introduced by the right government in 2018 – adding that the price of a plastic bag is €0.15, higher than the food it contains.
When the public leapt on him online after such a statement, the candidate tried to reformulate: “I did not say that was the retail price.”
Contacted by EURACTIV, a citrus grower from Valencia affiliated with the Spanish small farmers union (UPA), said that while the price depends on the variety, the production cost for 1kg of oranges during this last season was between €0.28 and €0.34.
The final price in supermarkets has oscillated around €2/kg or €0.30/unit over the past two years, according to the Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU).
The cost of food has become the biggest concern for people in the EU – even above the cost of housing and heating – according to a recent poll by World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF).
Another campaign group, Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE), earlier this week denounced the ‘unexplained food inflation’ and retailers passing costs onto customers.
“Despite food commodities trading around pre-crisis levels, the persistence of food inflation – due to increases at production and distribution level that are being transferred to consumers – poses a significant challenge,” reads the statement.
Likewise, the Spanish farmers’ organisation COAG found that the difference between the price from producers to consumers has grown by more than 65% in products like eggs in the past year.
They also slammed the lack of transparency by food corporations on how prices are set.
To tackle this issue, the Spanish left party Podemos – now integrated into the newly formed coalition of left and green parties, Sumar – brought to the table a proposal to create a chain of public supermarkets.
Idoia Villanueva, leftist MEP for Podemos, told EURACTIV that this initiative “would lower prices, favour access to quality food, make producers charge fair prices and promote local supply models, creating quality local employment, reducing environmental impact and developing sustainable agriculture and livestock”.
“The public supermarket would buy all its primary products from small and medium-sized producer organisations in our country,” she added, “excluding big corporations […] products from macro-farms and hyper-intensive irrigation.”
The proposal was quickly lambasted, but it is not far off from existing cooperative initiatives in other European countries that seek to shorten the chain of intermediaries and ensure fair prices for both consumers and producers.
However, for Raymond Torres, director for macroeconomic and international analysis at the think-thank Funcas, this is a possibility but would not address the root of the problem.
“The underlying problem of high prices in Spain, as in Europe as a whole, is above all an increase in production costs,” he said, adding that the solution lies in the regulatory framework to ensure competition in distribution and affordable production prices.
The expert also highlighted that “in a context of a certain supply restriction, this is always favourable to those who have more power in the market”.
In addition, Torres sees a solution in a measure already announced by the Spanish executive in April: an observatory of business margins to track ‘precisely’ the evolution of those.
Despite several solutions on the table, it is clear that food remains a class issue, as seen this week on national television.
If equal access to healthy and sustainable food is our goal, we might have to start by expecting our candidates to know how much a basic food basket costs.
By Paula Andrés
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Agri-bites you need to know
Ukraine and the EU agricultural reserve
The saga around the agricultural reserve, the yearly crisis fund set aside within the Common Agricultural Policy, has taken quite a few twists and turns, but we might have heard the last of it this week – at least for the rest of the year.
This is because the European Commission and member states have agreed to pay out all that’s left in the fund for 2023.
After member states approved the first tranche of the €100 million aid package to the five EU countries bordering Ukraine that the EU executive had proposed back in May to support farmers in the face of inflowing Ukrainian grain, the remaining €330 million will now be divvied up between the remaining 22 member states to help with ‘adverse climatic conditions’.
But criticism of the arrangement came from several sides.
On one hand, several countries criticised the “opaque” decision process behind the distribution of the money, with Germany’s Cem Özdemir accusing the Commission of “untransparent” behaviour, while Belgium and Luxembourg chose to abstain from the vote on the support package.
On the other hand, Slovakia, one of the “frontline countries” bordering Ukraine, called the EU aid allocated to the country “laughable,” with minister Jozef Bíreš arguing the damage seen by farmers was much larger.
Gene editing and other proposals
With several big Commission proposals expected to be tabled on Wednesday (5 July), we are bracing ourselves for a big week ahead.
Perhaps most anticipated – or feared, depending on who you ask – among this “Food and biodiversity package” is the regulation of plants produced by new genomic techniques (NGTs), which was originally pencilled in for early June but pushed back by a month. This time around, however, it seems like the proposal is actually coming, as several sources close to the matter hinted.
Leaked drafts of the regulation show the EU executive will likely propose to allow for certain kinds of gene-edited plants to be treated as conventionally produced plants – a plan that has many Green campaigners as well as the organics sector up in arms, while countries like Germany and Austria can also be expected to lobby against it.
Also part of the package is the soil law, which was previously postponed as well and is set to give soil the same protected status air or water already have in the EU, as well as the revision of the bloc’s legislation on seeds and of EU food waste rules.
Fur [free] farming
This month’s agriculture ministers meeting (AGRIFISH Council) tackled a furry issue: the breeding and killing of wild furred animals solely for their pelts – also known as fur farming.
Around 100 million animals a year are used for non-essential, luxury fur globally.
The practice, which is already banned or restricted in 19 European countries – Lithuania will soon become the 20th – has been condemned as ‘ethically indefensible’, ‘cruel’, and ‘unnecessary’ by ministers and NGOs.
For this reason, a majority of ministers supported an urgent ban on the fur farming industry put forward by Germany, Austria and the Netherlands – backed by more than 1.5 million citizens who signed the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Fur Free Europe’.
The Commission isn’t clear on whether they will make it come true – though a leaked impact assessment on the upcoming animal welfare rules showed the executive is considering it – and is expecting the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to work on a scientific opinion soon.
But if arguments over the poor animal welfare standards in the sector do not convince policymakers, the NGO Humane Society International/UK (HSI) published this week a report highlighting the environmental impacts of fur production.
According to the report, the carbon footprint of producing 1 kilogram of mink fur is 31 times higher than that of cotton and 25 times higher than polyester.
“If fur farming were banned across Europe, it would save nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the same as the annual carbon dioxide emissions of roughly 44,000 citizens in the EU,” reads the HSI statement, adding that “it would also save approximately 3,700 tonnes of water pollution and 11,800 tonnes of air emissions”.
Sustainable food systems
The Commission wants to table a proposal on Sustainable Food Systems in the third quarter of this year – that much is clear. Less clear, however, is what this proposal will actually focus on.
An impact assessment ahead of the law that was leaked in early March focused on ecological sustainability, mulling measures like mandatory requirements for sustainable public procurement or voluntary harmonised sustainability labelling systems.
But now, green campaigners worry about increasing hints that the framework could focus more on guaranteeing long-term food security than on climate and environmental pursuits. Against this backdrop, several NGOs warned of a “dangerous” shift in the Commission’s narrative on the proposal this week and called to keep up the ambition when it comes to climate and environmental protection.
Meanwhile, a report published this week by Research Umbrella Organisation SAPEA concluded that “for Europe to achieve its health and sustainability goals, the way we produce and consume food has to change,” since Europeans’ current diets have a “major impact” on the environment while also increasing the risk of diseases and obesity.
CAP corner
Commission admits weaknesses of farm funds’ social pillar. While introducing a ‘social pillar’ as part of the EU’s reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was a step in the right direction, the new instrument leaves out those sectors where violations of workers’ rights are most rampant, according to a Commission official. Read more.
Other agri-nibbles
Legislators agree on Farm Sustainability Data Network. One year after the Commission tabled its proposal for a Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN), EU ministers and the European Parliament have found an agreement on the legislation in the so-called trilogue talks between them. The proposal aims to ensure reliable data is collected and made accessible to farmers in order to enable them to implement sustainable practices. Among other things, the agreement reached on Friday foresees data sharing between the FSDN and other national and EU databases. It also foresees that participation will be voluntary for farmers, but that member states should develop incentives to participate.
Agri price increase slows down. The high price increases for agricultural products seen especially after the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine last year have been slowing down over the past months, according to new data published by EU statistics agency Eurostat. In the first quarter of 2023, agricultural output prices increased by 17% year-on-year, compared to a 26% increase in the last quarter of 2022.
Record high for EU agri exports. The bloc’s agricultural exports reached a three-year high in March after growing by 28% month-on-month, according to the latest agri-food trade report published on Tuesday. While almost all products saw higher exports compared to one year earlier, especially big increases were recorded for cereal preparations, fruit, nut, and vegetable preparations, as well as dairy products.
Agrifood news from the CAPitals
SLOVAKIA
First year of EU’s CAP reforms created unprecedented space for nature. Almost 7,000 kilometres of non-productive areas – four times the length of Slovakia’s national borders – have been created in Slovakia since the start of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. Find out more. (Marián Koreň | EURACTIV.sk)
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland mulls rowing back on Nutri Score. The Council of States, the Swiss parliament’s upper house, has called on the government to introduce “clear conditions” for the use of the Nutri Score, the colour-coded nutrition label whose use is contested also among EU countries. The move comes after certain sectors in the country, including cheese and fruit producers, had criticised the label for wrongfully disadvantaging their products. After the State Council decision, the lower parliamentary chamber will now give its opinion on the matter.
GREECE
New agri minister takes office. Lefteris Avgenakis, former deputy minister of culture and sports, has been appointed as Greece’s new agriculture minister after the victory of his party New Democracy in Sunday’s elections. At the same time, a new general secretary for Common Agricultural Policy was established. According to Avgenakia, his main priority as minister will be to stay “in constant contact with producers and all stakeholders, to cooperate and address the problems at their root.” (Marianthi Pelekanaki| EURACTIV.gr)
GERMANY
Ministry, retailers set food waste reduction targets. Germany’s agriculture ministry and 14 of the country’s biggest retailers signed a “pact against food waste” on Tuesday, which sets out reduction targets for the amount of food waste produced in retail. Among other things, the retailers pledge to cut food waste by 30% by 2025 and slash it in half by 2030, for example by donating more of the food that would otherwise be wasted. According to the ministry, the agreement is valid until 2031 and progress will be monitored and reported on every year. (Julia Dahm I EURACTIV.de)
POLAND
Polish raspberry farmers want to stop Ukrainian imports. The association of Polish Fruit-Growers appealed to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, asking for the suspension of Ukrainian fruit imports that are creating a ‘dramatic’ drop in demand for local products and lowering prices. Find out more. (Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
NORWAY
EU hails discovery of massive phosphate rock deposit. A massive underground deposit of high-grade phosphate rock in Norway, pitched as the world’s largest, is big enough to satisfy world demand for fertilisers, solar panels, and electric car batteries over the next 100 years, according to the company exploiting the resource. Read more.
NETHERLANDS
Dutch farmers‘ protests overshadowed by leak of lawmakers’ phone numbers. Farmers’ protests that disputed the failed Agricultural Accord on Thursday were overshadowed by the leaking of phone numbers of lawmakers from the coalition party Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA/EPP). Read the full story.
FRANCE
More and more migrant workers needed in horticulture. France’s labour shortage means that fruit and vegetable producers in the country increasingly employ seasonal migrant workers, often from outside the EU. But this development brings to the forefront housing problems as well as competition between EU countries. EURACTIV France has more.
AUSTRIA
Genomic techniques split civil society. Ahead of the Commission proposal on new genomic techniques (NGTs) next week, the topic has made waves in Austria’s public debate. As the EU country with the largest organics sector in relative terms, opposition against liberalising any form of genomic techniques has traditionally been strong in Austria, and the country is expected to push back against the EU executive’s proposal. However, an alliance of scientists came out in favour of liberalising NGTs this week. In an open letter, they called to “evaluate NGTs without prejudice, with an open mind, and based on scientific evidence.” (Julia Dahm I EURACTIV.de)
ITALY
Associations invite farmers to store paddy rice, not sell it. The price of paddy rice has plummeted with halved quotations compared to January’s. According to the main farmers’ associations of the rice-growing area in Italy, this will not even cover the expenses incurred by agri-companies to grow their crops. For this reason, they advised farmers not to sell off their paddy rice but to store the product so as to reduce supply and give a strong signal to the market. (Gerardo Fortuna | EURACTIV.com)
SPAIN
Record-high temperatures cause the death of two farmers in rural Spain. A 46-year-old farmer died this Monday from a heat stroke that he suffered while working on a wine farm, in the municipality of Cinco Casas (Ciudad Real), and becomes the second to die from these causes during the current heatwave in Spain. The regional minister of agriculture of Castilla-La Mancha has asked farmers to take extreme precautions if they work outdoors in the face of this “terrible” heat wave and has also asked that “maximum protection” be ensured for workers in the agricultural sector. EFEAgro has more.
[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]
