BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem zdemir has assured the farmers of the planned conversion of agriculture towards more animal and nature protection reliability and further economic prospects. The transformation must be tackled quickly, but it must also be plannable and feasible, said the Green politician on Tuesday evening at the start of the farmers’ association. It is important that additional services provided by companies are financially rewarded.
zdemir emphasized that the agricultural system as we know it is in crisis. Therefore, now is the time to finally bring agriculture, nature and environmental protection together. It is a task for society as a whole and also depends on changes in eating habits and consumer behavior.
A farm is “not a franchise branch” that is centrally prescribed feed or the use of pesticides. The farmers are the experts, said zdemir. He confirmed the goal of expanding the area used for co-farming to 30 percent by 2030 – but even then 70 percent of the area would still be farmed conventionally. “I want to be the minister of all farmers,” said zdemir. It is important to make all of agriculture more sustainable, according to the maxim: “No longer higher, further faster, but better, healthier and together.”/sam/DP/ngu