Agriculture Ministers from Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Switzerland met on 28 and 29 October 2015 in Basel to continue land discussions first initiated last year by the German Federal Minister for Agriculture and Food, Christian Schmidt.
The aim of the meeting, instigated by Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, was to engage in a further exchange of views concerning the measures undertaken by participating countries.
Five key objectives were formulated at the 2014 meeting and were discussed more in depth in Basel last week, these being the securing of rural land ownership and ensuring dispersed ownership; reducing space reallocation; securing food production; promoting environmental and resoure-saving farming practices; and securing the future through sustainable growth.
Since the last meeting in Germany the topic of the earth and the ground has been internationally discussed and highlighted as an essential factor in the establishment of a sustainable food supply at the informal Council in Milan under the Italian Presidency in September 2014. The United Nations have proclaimed 2015 as the 'International Year of Soils' and the agricultural and climate issues have been in the spotlight under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU held in the second half of this year.
At this year's meeting, attendees pointed to fertile soil next to water sources as an important resource for mankind in ensuring nutrition and a good climate. The significance of continuing discussions on this topic were highlighted, although no concrete solutions were proposed. A number of approaches will however be developed in the future, including national schemes on leade rights, increasing the humus content of the soil, and converting derelict industrial areas.
A third meeting has been planned by Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection of Luxembourg, Fernand Etgen, for next year in the Grand Duchy.
Photo by MAVPC (L-R: Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection of Luxembourg, Fernand Etgen; Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Christian Schmidt (D); Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF) (CH); Head of EU Agriculture Coordination, Christa Bauer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Water Management (A))
