What could be loosely described as the German equivalent of the Ploughing or Balmoral Show began on Friday this week and runs until next Sunday. It has been taking place in Berlin since 1926 and features farming, horticulture and food industry exhibits. The event attracts 400,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors, many international, and hosts over 300 technical forums.

International

Where it differs from the Ploughing is that it has a strong international dimension with the occasion used by Ministers of Agriculture from around the world to meet up. It has always a strong input from Brussels and this year EU Commissioners for Agriculture Phil Hogan and for Health Vytenis Adriukaitis are in attendance, with the proposed CAP reforms to the fore.

The 11th International Agricultural Ministers’ Conference takes place as part of the supporting programme and will attract up to 200 ministers of agriculture and secretaries of state.

Forum for Hogan's CAP proposals

Commissioner Hogan will be using the occasion to host a further citizen’s dialogue on his CAP Communication, which was published in November. This is where he meets a group of industry stakeholders in open forum with the dual ambition of listening to reaction and seeking to persuade as wide a coalition as possible from around Europe to support his ambitions before the CAP 2020 proposal move to the legislative phase.

On Friday, he hosted a panel on the future of livestock production which included the agriculture ministers from New Zealand and Zambia, the director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the director general of the International Livestock Research Institute from Kenya.

Brexit notwithstanding, in the future we will continue to require a common agricultural policy

In his address to the opening ceremony of Green Week, German Minister of Food and Agriculture Chrsitian Schmidt affirmed his country's support for farming and the CAP and the principle of direct payments to farmers.

“We are all agreed: Brexit notwithstanding, in the future we will continue to require a common agricultural policy, one that is secure and expertly shaped and planned.

"Subsidisation beyond 2020 must be organised in a simpler and more targeted manner. We want less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to ensure a competitive farming industry.

"I want farmers who are active and devoted to their local region to become the focus of European agricultural policy.”

Comment

With the Commissioner in the audience, the tone and content of this speech was significant. Recently, there have been murmurings of President Emmanuel Macron in France being less than enthusiastic in his support for farming and the CAP support at present levels.

With Germany the largest net contributor to the EU budget, its support will be vital in the coming weeks as the Multiannual financial framework (MFF) is formulated. This is the budget that the EU will have in place post-2020.

Filling the Brexit gap and funding new initiatives will be demanding on resources. A clear indication of support for farming from Germany will be useful in galvanising the French and setting the mood for a strongly funded CAP.

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