Together with her Dutch counterpart Sharon Dijksma, Federal Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner opened the 78th International Green Week (IGW) and the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) on Thursday.
The GFFA is a political meeting that focuses on vital issues related to the future of the global agri-food industry. It is absolutely unique in the world. Held during the IGW in connection with the International Agriculture Ministers’ Summit, the conference is taking place in its present form for the fifth time.
82 ministers from around the world have already registered for the opening of this year’s GFFA which will address the issue of “Responsible Investments in the Agri-Food Sector – A Key Factor for Food Security and Rural Development”. With a view to the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Summit scheduled for Saturday, Aigner stated: “There is no other meeting of Agriculture Ministers in the world that receives such a positive response and is held in such high esteem as the Agriculture Ministers’ Summit in Berlin. The participation of so many delegations from around the globe also reflects the importance of the subject under debate.” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that annual worldwide investments amounting to USD 83 billion are needed in the agricultural and food sectors as well as rural development in order to meet the food requirements of around 9.3 billion people in 2050. “Together with my ministerial colleagues and representatives from civil society and the scientific and business communities, I will draw up recommendations on how to promote responsible investment in order to fight hunger, malnutrition and poverty in rural areas”, said Aigner at the opening of Green Week.
With regard to Germany’s agriculture industry, the Minister said that the sector had every reason to enter the New Year with confidence. Incomes and revenues are picking up compared to previous years – German products are highly appreciated worldwide and the demand for food products “made in Germany” is still growing. German consumers are also very pleased with the quality and diversity of the products on offer, Aigner added. “The farming sector takes responsibility for humans, animals and the environment and it makes rural areas charming places to live. In a current survey, 81% of consumers questioned said that they place great trust in the German agricultural sector because they know that farmers work with nature and meet high standards day after day. My thanks go to our farmers for their dedication and commitment. The Federal Government greatly values our farmers as key achievers and we will continue being a reliable and supportive partner for them in future”, said Federal Minister Aigner in her opening speech on Thursday evening.
Aigner said that the Federal Government had reinforced planning certainty for farmers even further with measures such as tax relief on agricultural diesel, increased financial support for the agricultural social security system, and the possibility of handing down farms without the burden of inheritance tax. With regard to the ongoing EU negotiations on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), Aigner stated: “Those who go into EU negotiations with the clear intention of eliminating direct payments from the EU are gambling with the livelihoods of our farmers. We need rural farming to remain strong in the future, which is why we need stable EU direct payments, less unnecessary red tape and, above all, reliability on the part of policy-makers. As Federal Minister, I will continue to do my utmost to achieve this aim.”
