Farm President Against EU Recovery Regulation - German farmers warn EU policies risk food security and agricultural stability
German farming leaders have raised urgent concerns over food security and EU policies during a recent Bundestag debate. On 15 January 2025, Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer joined voices like Klaus-Peter Lucht and Cornelia Schmachtenberg in criticising new environmental and agricultural regulations. Their warnings highlight growing tensions between conservation goals and the need to maintain stable food supplies.
Klaus-Peter Lucht, head of the Schleswig-Holstein Farmers’ Association, argued that the EU’s Nature Restoration Law threatens food production. He warned that converting 4,600 more hectares into nature reserves would shrink available farmland at a critical time. Lucht also pointed to delays in approving plant protection products, noting that the EU has greenlit none since 2019—while the UK approved four in the same period.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Agriculture Minister Cornelia Schmachtenberg echoed these concerns, stressing that food security must not be compromised. She criticised the EU’s revised agricultural policy, calling instead for a unified approach to ensure fair competition within the single market. Lucht added that slow political decisions, such as the stalled deforestation regulation, worsen the situation. Both officials also warned of broader risks. Lucht cautioned that climate change and fragile supply chains could trigger social unrest if food shortages arise. The debate, led by Minister Rainer, underscored the need for faster policy action to balance environmental and agricultural demands.
The warnings from Lucht, Schmachtenberg, and Rainer put pressure on EU lawmakers to act. Farmers face tighter land restrictions and fewer tools to protect crops, while food security remains at risk. Without policy changes, officials fear further strain on agriculture and potential instability in supply chains.
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