On 24.3.22 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the urgent action plan to ensure the food security - namely, the security of food supplies - following the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions applied to Russia. (1)
1) RUSSIA, UKRAINE E FOOD SECURITY IN EU
The penalties imposed on Russia 'will result in a significant cumulative disruption of the world markets for agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, in addition to the COVID-19 crisis and the recent significant increases in input costs'.
1.1) Imports at risk
Before the conflict Russia and Ukraine contributed significantly to the global cereal market (wheat 31%, barley 32%, corn 17%), seeds and sunflower oil (20% and 50%, respectively), nitrogen fertilizers. In addition to potassium carbonate, from Belarus.
Imports in the EU of commodities agricultural, expressed in megatonnes (mln t, Mt) concerned:
- maize (9,2 Mt, 57% of supplies), rapeseed (2 Mt, 42% of EU imports by volume), sunflower cakes (1,3 Mt, 47% of imports) and sunflower seeds (0,1 Mt , 15%), wheat (1 Mt, 30% of imports) from Ukraine,
- rapeseed (0,2, Mt, 50% of EU supplies), sunflower cake (0,9 Mt, 34%) and sunflower seeds (0,3 Mt, 35%), wheat (0,5 Mt, 11 %) from Russia (resolution 24.3.22, Recital E, L, K).
1.2) CAP e food security
The goals of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the common fisheries policy (CFP) include, inter alia, Parliament recalls,
- the procurement of food with high nutritional value on the EU market,
- the reduction of the dependence of the EU market on food imports,
- ensuring that food products reach consumers at reasonable prices.
'The COVID-19 pandemic and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made even more evident the need for the EU to strengthen its food security and reduce its dependence on inputs imported from a single supplier or from too few external suppliers. EU'(resolution 24.3.22, Recital Q).
1.3) Energy, poverty and the right to food
The Russia - the first supplier of fossil fuels in the EU - it supplied, in 2021, 40,5% of the gas and 27% of the oil needed by the Member States. (2) It isthe prices of energy, inputs and food are all rising as a result of the conflict '. As a result, more and more people - beyond the 97 million currently at risk in the EU alone - will be at risk of poverty.
'They are therefore necessary social measures to help producers and consumers cope with these effects; whereas food security not only implies the availability of food resources, but also includes, according to the FAO, the right to food and universal access to a healthy diet'(Cons. S, T, U).
2) EU AGRI-FOOD CHAIN
Il tree of prices of energy, fuels, nitrogen fertilizers, raw materials and agricultural products'has a significant impact on the agri-food and aquatic sector, causing a sharp increase in production costs which jeopardizes the continuity of production and can lead to disruption of the supply chain'.
2.1) End of export In Russia
Exports EU agri-food products to Russia, which is the sixth Partner commercial Europe, are also compromised by the 'commercial disruption and the penalties imposed'. This requires - according to the Strasbourg Assembly - 'mitigation measures, including the creation of alternative markets for EU agricultural products'(Recital Z, AA).
2.2) Internal market
The correct functioning of the market internal is invoked which 'essential condition for guaranteeing food safety'. MEPs complain about Hungary's recent ban on grain exports, 'in violation of its obligations under the Treaty and the principle of EU solidarity'(Recital AH). And the worst is to come in the international competition between member states for gas, liquid natural gas and oil.
2.3) Market monitoring and business support
The MEPs denounce 'price speculation'and invite the Commission'to monitor the markets'which relate to the food security. But it is impossible to stem these phenomena without changing the rules. And right in these hours the proposal to introduce a calmiere (price cap) on gas prices - supported by Italy and Spain - is opposed by the custodians of the free market (Germany and Holland).
The Strasbourg Assembly therefore limits itself to asking the Commission to adopt 'the necessary measures [and sufficient? Ed] to protect EU agricultural, fishing and aquaculture businesses with support measures in order to create certainty and greater guarantees to maintain and, where necessary, increase food production by European farmers and fishermen'.
3) FERTILIZERS
Nitrogen fertilizers have recorded an extraordinary increase in prices (+ 142% in the last year) and represent on average, together with energy, 20% of the costs of agricultural production.
3.1) Innovation and reforms
The innovation it is essential to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and the risks associated with the volatility of their prices. It is necessary to increase the use of fertilizers derived from organic sources of nutrients such as sewage sludge and processed manure, biochar and ash. Without neglecting biostimulants and mycorrhizae.
The European Commission to this end is invited to:
- promote research, in Horizon europe, on the interconnection between sustainability and greater circularity in agriculture and the abandonment of dependence on chemical fertilizers in favor of greener and renewable alternatives,
- address the legislative and practical obstacles that hinder the implementation of these solutions, to strengthen the use of organic fertilizers. With attention, in the opinion of the writer, to the need to simplify the management costs of animal by-products intended for subsequent processing.
3.2) Other measures
The European Parliament also urges the Commission 'to initiate the lifting of anti-dumping duties on fertilizers produced in third countries'. AND 'Calls on the Commission to assess the possibility and feasibility of mobilizing additional financial support for the sectors most affected and to take urgent, targeted and interim measures to help farmers mitigate the effects of the sharp increase in fertilizer prices'(resolution PE 24.3.22, paragraph 26).
The Nitrates Directive (91/676 / EEC) could then be subjected to a temporary derogation, in spite of the needs for the protection of human health, reaffirmed in the reg. EU 2020/741. To raise the limits on the application of nitrogen from animal manure (e.g. manure, RENURE), 'as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, in line with fertilizer limits'(paragraph 28).
4) CULTIVATIONS AND ECOSYSTEMS
The occasion of the emergency is accepted by the European Parliament to introduce exceptions to the ecological transition objectives introduced in Green Deal and Farm to Fork, Biodiversity 2030, EU Soil strategy.
Besides, in more blurred terms, in CAP 2023-2027 e Next Generation US (Eg Recovery Plan).
4.1) Areas of ecological interest
Le LOBBY of the agrochemical industry and the agricultural confederations at their service prevailed over the heartfelt appeal of the 408 scientists, for a policy oriented towards the efficiency and resilience of food production under the aegis of agroecology. (3)
Pesticides and fertilizers chemicals should also be used in ecological focus areas, 'if necessary,temporarily'. The European Parliament therefore calls on the Commission 'to grant the Member States the necessary flexibility'to undermine the over ten-year efforts to conserve and restore ecosystems (point 29).
4.2) Rest land
The 'exceptional circumstances' are alleged because of the 'urgent need to introduce temporary and reversible measures to increase EU production in the 2022 harvest season in order to contribute to EU food security'. AND 'to propose further adequate measures, if necessary, for 2023'.
The land at rest - 200 hectares in Italy, essential for recovering soil functions and maintaining populations of pollinators, pest controllers and other ecosystem service providers - must therefore leave room for crops'intended for human or animal consumption', with'priority to protein crops'(paragraph 30).
5) CRISIS RESERVE, CAP ADVANCES
A crisis reserve - 479 million euros, of which 48 for Italy - will be released urgently for 'help the agricultural sector cope with the current market challenges'. New funds, additional to the resources already allocated for the CAP, will have to be released to replenish the crisis reserve.
Member States, on the basis of the agreements which have meanwhile been reached with the Commission, they will in turn be able to co-finance agricultural and food businesses in an amount equal to 200% of the crisis reserve.
Advances producers on direct payments and rural development measures related to the area and animals, according to the indications of the Strasbourg Assembly, will have to go from 50 to 70% for income support and from 75 to 85% for rural development .
6) ANTITHESIS
The European Parliament 'stresses that European citizens, food producers and consumers are therefore ready to share the weight of the war in solidarity with the heroic Ukrainian people'(points 3,16).
Emmanuel Macron, in the current French presidency of the EU Council, announces an unprecedented food crisis that will last for at least a couple of years.
The European Union however, it has allocated 500 million euros - a sum greater than the 'crisis reserve'for our agriculture - in lethal weapons and war supplies to a third country in conflict. (4) By fueling the conflict underlying the European recession.
#NotInOurName, #MakeFoodNotWar!
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) European Parliament. Resolution 24.3.22 on the need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security inside and outside the European Union in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022/2593 (RSP). https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0099_IT.html
(2) Dario Dongo. Gas and electricity, an announced crisis. GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade). 20.3.22/XNUMX/XNUMX, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/mercati/gas-ed-energia-elettrica-una-crisi-annunciata
(3) Dario Dongo. From Farm to Fork to Farm to War, the appeal of science for a resilient food strategy. GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade). 22.3.22/XNUMX/XNUMX, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/idee/da-farm-to-fork-a-farm-to-war-l-appello-della-scienza-per-una-strategia-alimentare-resiliente
(4) The EU treaties do not allow the European budget to be drawn on for military purposes. The obstacle was circumvented by Ursula von der Leyen by drawing on extra resources-budget allocated in the bottom European Peace Facility, established in March 2021. Peacekeeping missiles?
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
