IFA President Tim Cullinan met EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski in Brussels this morning.
Amongst the issues discussed were the extraordinary increase in input costs, the EU Farm to Fork and CAP policies. Cost surges are impacting on all sectors but in particular are having a devastating impact on the pig, poultry and horticulture sectors. These cost pressures are likely to increase as a result of developments in the Ukraine.
Speaking after the meeting IFA President Tim Cullinan said it was a solemn morning to be meeting the Commissioner given the overnight events in the Ukraine.
“While these events will have huge and tragic consequences they will also impact further on costs and food production” he said.
“Relative to many countries Ireland has a very extensive farming system. This has to be protected. I am very concerned that a lot of policies pursued by the Commission particularly elements of the CAP and the Farm to Fork are not supporting productive farming and will have consequences for food security,” he said.
“There needs to be a lot more work done by the EU on the impact of these policies on EU farmers” he said. The Commission’s own JRC study clearly demonstrates the devastating impact these policies will have on Irish and EU food production” said President Cullinan.
“Farmers are currently being hit by extraordinary cost inflation for fertiliser, feed and energy. This is not sustainable. It is already having a devastating effect on our pig sector and the Commission needs to act immediately to address this” he said. “While it was a constructive meeting, I am concerned that the policies being pursued by the Commissioner and the EU Commission may further threaten food security,” he said.
