It is “inconceivable” that the EU would delay or argue about introducing supports that the EU agri-food sector so clearly requires, the president of ICMSA has said.
Pat McCormack said that any delay or piecemeal response puts at risk the food security of the EU and the very future of the agri-food sector. He warned that delay in acting as a collective risked the renationalisation of agriculture policy, with very severe consequences for farmers across the EU. It would also raise the most fundamental questions about the EU’s ability to act in unison at times of crisis, he said.
Absence of support
“In times of crisis, citizens expect the EU to act decisively, and the complete absence of even a signal of support to the agriculture sector during the COVID-19 outbreak can best be described as bitterly disappointing and hugely worrying.
“Everyone knows that a significant proportion of the normal food supply chain has closed down in the last fortnight causing major and unprecedented disruption throughout the farming and food sectors, with farmers taking a very severe hit as a result.
“Those same farmers are working day and night delivering high-quality food to EU citizens and it is simply unacceptable that their incomes are being wiped out and their livelihoods endangered, while the EU watches on dithering – almost as a spectator,” McCormack said.
The retail sector will profit handsomely from the current crisis and it is simply not acceptable that the farmer, the primary-producer of food is expected to shoulder the hit
Walk the walk
“This is where we expect – and are entitled to expect – that the EU ‘walk the walk’ in terms of concrete policies to support the sector that’s doing most to feed the people of Europe and allay a general panic.
“There will also need to be work done and plans made on charting a road a road to recovery so that the sector can continue to deliver food security post-COVID-19," McCormack added.
“Measures that are needed now include [aid to private storage] for dairy products and direct supports for farmers hit by COVID-19-related price cuts.
“It is already obvious that the retail sector will profit handsomely from the current crisis and it is simply not acceptable that the farmer, the primary-producer of food is expected to shoulder the hit while the retailer of that same food actually profits,” he said.
McCormack said that the EU Farm Council meeting scheduled for 27 April should be brought forward to approve measures to support the farm sector because any further delay from the EU in intervening will make a very bad situation worse and must be avoided.
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It is “inconceivable” that the EU would delay or argue about introducing supports that the EU agri-food sector so clearly requires, the president of ICMSA has said.
Pat McCormack said that any delay or piecemeal response puts at risk the food security of the EU and the very future of the agri-food sector. He warned that delay in acting as a collective risked the renationalisation of agriculture policy, with very severe consequences for farmers across the EU. It would also raise the most fundamental questions about the EU’s ability to act in unison at times of crisis, he said.
Absence of support
“In times of crisis, citizens expect the EU to act decisively, and the complete absence of even a signal of support to the agriculture sector during the COVID-19 outbreak can best be described as bitterly disappointing and hugely worrying.
“Everyone knows that a significant proportion of the normal food supply chain has closed down in the last fortnight causing major and unprecedented disruption throughout the farming and food sectors, with farmers taking a very severe hit as a result.
“Those same farmers are working day and night delivering high-quality food to EU citizens and it is simply unacceptable that their incomes are being wiped out and their livelihoods endangered, while the EU watches on dithering – almost as a spectator,” McCormack said.
The retail sector will profit handsomely from the current crisis and it is simply not acceptable that the farmer, the primary-producer of food is expected to shoulder the hit
Walk the walk
“This is where we expect – and are entitled to expect – that the EU ‘walk the walk’ in terms of concrete policies to support the sector that’s doing most to feed the people of Europe and allay a general panic.
“There will also need to be work done and plans made on charting a road a road to recovery so that the sector can continue to deliver food security post-COVID-19," McCormack added.
“Measures that are needed now include [aid to private storage] for dairy products and direct supports for farmers hit by COVID-19-related price cuts.
“It is already obvious that the retail sector will profit handsomely from the current crisis and it is simply not acceptable that the farmer, the primary-producer of food is expected to shoulder the hit while the retailer of that same food actually profits,” he said.
McCormack said that the EU Farm Council meeting scheduled for 27 April should be brought forward to approve measures to support the farm sector because any further delay from the EU in intervening will make a very bad situation worse and must be avoided.
Read more
COVID-19: consumers pick poultry over steak
ICMSA seeks flexibility on nitrates stocking rates
FBD introduces €200,000 fund for farmers with COVID-19
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