German Agriculture Gears up for Climate Change
Government invites global leaders to panel discussion on ways to improve agriculture.
Mike Wilson
Published: Jan 14, 2010
Berlin, Germany - "When it comes to climate change, the ag sector is a victim and perpetrator at the same time," says Ilse Aigner, Germany's Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, speaking at the 2010 Green Week exhibition opening this week in Berlin.
"Agriculture and Climate change" is the theme here as the world's largest consumer show braces to receive 400,000 guests over the next 10 days at the massive ICC exhibit hall in Berlin. Some 1,600 exhibitors from 56 countries will have their hands full as visitors flock through the crowded hallways to sample food, drink, and anything else consumer-related.
While Aigner focused on food and policy issues, she made it clear climate change was the fundamental challenge facing German farmers today.
"If Ag wants to produce more to feed all people on our planet, it has to be more productive and do it in a way that saves the climate," she says.
The German Ag Ministry has invited ag ministers from around the globe (including USDA chief Tom Vilsack) to come to Berlin to attend a panel discussion on Jan. 16 in order to discuss experiences and proposals in climate protection and learn what strategies other countries are trying. More than 50 ministers of agriculture are expected in Berlin.
Aigner says she hopes each of the ministers will leave the meeting with better ideas on how to reshape their agriculture sector to deal with changing climate conditions.
"We can become more environmentally friendly, but we should be realistic," she says. "Making agriculture climate-neutral and still have sufficient food production for all will be very difficult."
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