Brussels, 18/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - European farmers and agricultural cooperatives are increasingly worried about the crisis currently affecting the agricultural markets. Production prices for a number of agricultural products have registered sharp falls over recent months, while production costs have risen significantly.
In a press release published on Tuesday 17 February, Jean Michel Lemétayer, the president of Copa (European farmers) declared, “We are seeing a crisis in European agriculture unfold before our eyes. A sharp drop in the price of agricultural products combined with a rise in production costs led to an almost 5% decline in farmers' real incomes in 2008. If nothing is done, the protests we have already seen in countries such as Greece, Bulgaria and the Baltic countries are almost certain to widen.”
Gert van Dijk, President of Cogeca (European agri-cooperatives), stressed that the European Commission should step up its efforts and take action against “the imbalances of power in the food chain”. He asked how consumers could be expected to pay the same amount for their food in supermarkets, while farmers are being paid less. Mr van Dijk said they needed more transparency in the food chain and affirmed that the Commission should investigate the mechanisms of price transmission and measures needed to support and encourage farmers to fully use their cooperatives' potential.
Copa and Cogeca have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that global food markets have become much more volatile. If food security in Europe is to be maintained and supplies of sustainably-produced high-quality European food are to be assured, policy-makers must urgently introduce measures to help prevent the most extreme market fluctuations and make sure that the remaining market managing tools are used. (http://www.copa-cogeca.eu ). (L.C./trans/rh)