Open letter : Europe needs more farmers
International Day of Peasant Struggles – 17 April 2021
17 April marks the 25th International Day of Peasant Struggles during which we commemorate the massacre of 21 landless peasants in 1996 in Eldorado dos Carajás, Brazil, while demonstrating in support of comprehensive agrarian reform. For this occasion the Biodynamic Federation Demeter International joined more than 60 organisations including farmers and environmental organisations, NGOs and researchers to address a letter to the European Commission and the legislators of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Key role of small and medium-sized farmers
This letter stresses the key role of small and medium-sized farmers to face the environmental, social and food-related crises of today and asks for EU policies that support and increase the number of small-scale farmers. At a moment where the final negotiations on the CAP are taking place and the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies are being discussed, it is crucial to include concrete measures to ensure sustainable farming practices and fair living standards for farmers while ensuring food sovereignty. This can only be achieved by taking into account the fundamental role of farmers!
Contact: Clara Behr, Head of Policy and Public relations
clara.behr@demeter.net
Brussels, 17.04.2021
