Maintain Europe as a production location, exploit climate protection potential, secure milk production
Vienna (OTS) – On the occasion of tomorrow’s World Farmers’ Day, which has been celebrated since 2000 to highlight the important work of farmers, especially in food production, LK Austria President Josef Moosbrugger to say: “According to Welthungerhilfe, 735 million people worldwide do not have enough food and are starving. This shows, especially in times of war, how essential it is to have family farms available that are able and willing to sustainably supply our population with sufficient quality food, raw materials and energy – and to do so at the most exemplary production standards in the world. Local farms are a valuable security factor that must be preserved for the future.”
Maintain supply function, exploit potential for climate protection
“EU policy must ensure that European and therefore Austrian farmers can continue to fulfil their production and supply mandate. They must not be overloaded with bans and regulations. At the same time, it must be ensured that climate change, which threatens all biodiversity, is slowed down or stopped, in particular by moving away from fossil fuels. Agriculture and forestry can also offer important solutions here, especially in the area of renewable energy sources, raw materials and regional food. This potential must be exploited,” emphasises Moosbrugger. “In addition, in the interests of the climate, biodiversity and food production, it must be ensured that the valuable resource of soil is adequately protected from sealing,” the LKÖ President underlines some of the many necessities.
EU number of farms has fallen by 24% in ten years
“It is worrying that the number of farms in the European Union is steadily decreasing. Between 2010 and 2020, the number fell by 24% from 12 to 9 million farms. It is also a fact that requirements and bureaucracy are constantly increasing, while the share of farmers in the value chain has decreased over years and decades. But neither farmers nor consumers will be satisfied with filled out forms in the long term,” warns Moosbrugger, calling for a thinning of bureaucracy, practical framework conditions and a living income for farmers so that they are still willing to fulfill their supply obligations.
Populated Alpine region unthinkable without dairy cows, sheep and goats
On June 1st, not only World Farmers’ Day is celebrated, but also World Milk Day. “The settlement of the entire Alpine region of Austria would be unthinkable without dairy cows, sheep and goats. Only ruminants can transform the grass and hay in the Alpine terrain into valuable, protein-rich food and ensure that the alpine pastures, meadows and pastures remain open at an affordable price. This diverse landscape, which has grown over centuries, is also a central, indispensable basis for Austria’s tourism and leisure industry. Habitat diversity also creates diversity of life,” emphasizes the LKÖ President, also referring to the biodiversity area record in Austria’s agriculture in 2024.
“It is not only an agricultural goal that the approximately 23,000 Austrian dairy farms are not crushed under an avalanche of costs and EU regulations, but also that they maintain an economic basis for existence in the future – just like the processing industry,” demands Moosbrugger. “Consumers who rely on Austrian milk and dairy products will be rewarded with the best taste, quality and highest production standards.”
Inquiries & Contact:
Mag. Claudia Jung-Leithner,
Press Officer & Head of Communication,
LK Austria,
Tel.: +43 676 83441 8770,
E-Mail: c.jung-leithner@lk-oe.at
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