Drennan: policies put EU’s capability to feed populations at risk

What the President of the European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen is now proposing as agricultural and food strategy is capable if seriously damaging that body’s capacity to feed its own people, the President of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan has said. 

The proposals she has put forward‘ cannot be taken seriously’ until there is a fundamental reform of the manner in which the margins within the food supply chain or a schedule of direct supports to farmers are forthcoming, he contends.

What the dairy industry chief referred to as 'the fundamental binary decision’ taken by the President is likely to result in fatal damage to the family-based farming model that is the backbone of the Irish model and will accelerate the decline in agriculture within the EU. These proposals will undermine a vibrant farming sector“in astonishing short timeframes”, notably Ireland’s dairy sector which is recognised globally as being excellent.

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