OT at TIF – Ag. Min. Georgantas: Europe is self-sufficient, problem with meat and soft wheat for Greece

The Minister of Agricultural Development and Food, Giorgos Georgantas, mentioned the challenges for food security that the combination of the energy and climate crisis entails from the OT Forum at the Thessaloniki International Fair.

The minister noted that the main problem is the climate crisis, with the energy crisis merely highlighting the problems caused by the former. “The climate crisis can destroy crops,” the minister reminded, citing the example of India where a severe heatwave resulted in a ban on grain exports and the removal of 9% of available quantities from markets.

Optimism about food sufficiency, the wheat question

Mr. Georgantas appeared optimistic about food sufficiency in Europe, noting that the bloc is self-sufficient. For Greece, he said that the problems are found in meat and soft wheat. As he explained, although the country produces and exports durum wheat (used to make pasta), at the same time it imports 85% of the quantities of soft wheat used, among other things, to make bread, but also for animal feed.

One reason for this discrepancy is the climatic conditions, as soft wheat requires cold climates that exist only in certain areas of northern Greece. He noted, however, that incentives would be given to bring soft wheat into the list of subsidized crops, giving farmers an incentive to grow it. He reminded that the measures taken by the EU include a provision for the possibility to cultivate lands that are fallow.

Danger to North Africa

However, the Minister of Rural Development sounded the alarm about the risk of a food crisis in North Africa, making it clear that such a development will affect us all. “We don’t want there to be a shortage of food anywhere,” he emphasized.

Animal husbandry

Turning to animal husbandry, Mr. Georgantas underlined that in the Prime Minister’s speech at TIF there will be a special section for the primary sector. “The amount of feed is out of whack,” he admitted, stressing that the mainland is to be incentivized to produce its own feed. Moving on to the islands, he noted that there will be special targeted support.

The Minister of Rural Development said that there will be announcements for measures to support farmers by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which will be carried out within the frameworks that allow the budgetary margins.

Making special reference to the support of young farmers, he noted that in the villages there are people who want to engage in the primary sector. He also said that there is now maturity to consider changes in crops, when due to climate change disasters are repeatedly recorded.

For the Kalamata olive

Finally, referring to the issue that has arisen with the Kalamata olive, he said that the goal is to protect the PDO product produced in Kalamata and the homonymous variety, which is also cultivated in other parts of the country.

The aim is to have an increase in production that follows international demand, as this prevents the risk of third parties entering the process.