In the dispute over the release of agricultural fallow land for the cultivation of grain, maize and forage crops, the Greens have urgently warned against playing off the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis and the extinction of species against each other. “Without protecting our natural basis of life, healthy food production is not possible,” says Gisela Sengl, member of the Green Party and organic farmer. “Therefore, the strategies for more climate and species protection in agriculture must be implemented further.” Farmer President Walter Heidl, on the other hand, is appealing to federal and state politicians to follow a decision by the EU Commission and enable arable farming on organic land. “Agricultural policy is responsible for doing everything possible to ensure security of supply in Europe and, above all, in poorer emerging and developing countries,” says Heidl.
The background to the dispute is the war in Ukraine and the threat of massive losses in grain imports. Ukraine and Russia are among the most important grain suppliers worldwide. Their share of the global wheat market is almost 30 percent. As a result of the Ukraine war, there are already significant price increases for wheat, but also for other cereals. According to experts, Europe or Germany do not have to expect worse effects. North Africa and the Middle East are different. The supply situation there could soon deteriorate considerably. Farmer President Heidl is now calling for “everything to be done to prevent impending emergencies with every effort”. The farmers stand for more sustainability in agriculture, they would advance their “production methods with regard to climate protection and biodiversity”. But now it’s about security of supply. Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) and the Free Voters argue like Heidl.
The Greens oppose it. “The climate crisis, lack of water, depleted soil and the loss of species are already leading to crop failures and reduced yields,” says Sengl. The agricultural fallow areas are urgently needed buffer and recovery zones for the ecosystem. In addition, they accounted for only a fraction of the total agricultural area. In Bavaria they cover 20,000 hectares of a total of two million hectares of arable land, i.e. just one percent. Should the farmers actually want to grow more grain for food, Sengl believes that they could limit the cultivation of animal feed for fattening cattle at any time. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) is also critical of the farmers’ demands. He only wants to comply with it to a very limited extent. The Federal Council will deal with the dispute this Friday.