Germany: Minister asks for food to become more expensive so that consumers can appreciate it more

Rural Development Minister Cem Etzdemir spoke out against the very low food prices (dumping), calling for prices to be raised so that, he said, people could appreciate the value of food.

“Sometimes I get the feeling that a good engine oil is more important to us than a good salad oil,” Etzdemir told BILD, adding that food should not be turned into luxury goods, prices must more clearly reflect the ecological reality “. The Green politician also said that he is planning stricter food conditions, in order to facilitate consumers’ access to healthier food. “The German diet is generally very unhealthy. “More than half of the adults are overweight,” he said. “The reason is too much sugar, fat and salt, especially in ready meals,” he said, adding that politicians had tried in the past to persuade the food industry to make changes, but only on a voluntary basis. “It’s over now. “With me, there will be binding targets for reduction,” he stressed.

The Minister of Rural Development also stated that he intends to expand the area of ​​organic crops by 1030 from 10% to 30% and announced that “the purchasing power of the state” will be utilized, with the focus on public structures focusing more on local and organic products.

Mr Etzdemir also wants to reduce the number of animals raised in Germany. “It would be better to have fewer animals and have them in better conditions,” he said, referring to increased controls. In addition, as he said, “we want to create the legal framework in order to monitor the large slaughterhouses with cameras.”

In the same interview, Cem Etzdemir referred to the great interest among farmers in cannabis cultivation, in view of its conditional decriminalization, which is planned by the government.

Asked to explain the minister’s statements on food prices, which provoked reactions, Ministry of Rural Development spokesman Michael Hawk said that agriculture is an important value factor for the country’s rural areas and in order to remain so, farmers in Germany should make money by protecting the environment and the climate and by animal welfare.

“Agriculture must become a reliable pillar of income for farmers,” Mr Hawk said, adding that low prices for imported products were leading to the destruction of livestock and domestic agricultural production.

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