Köstinger: The food supply in Austria is currently not threatened
Current discussion with Elisabeth Köstinger in the Agriculture Committee
Vienna (PC) – “At the moment, the food supply in Austria is not threatened,” stressed Minister of Agriculture Elisabeth Köstinger in today’s debate on current issues in the Agriculture Committee. The dominant questions in the exchange with the deputies were the effects of the war in Ukraine on agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture is not currently expecting any supply bottlenecks, but further price increases cannot be ruled out.
In her introductory statement, Minister of Agriculture Elisabeth Köstinger gave an overview of the effects of the war in Ukraine. It is a “dramatic development” and causes “incredible human suffering,” said Köstinger. This would also result in serious distortions at European and global level. The Minister of Agriculture expects further price increases, as it is not yet possible to estimate how a possible default by the large wheat exporter Ukraine will be announced. “Currently, the food supply in Austria is not threatened,” assured Köstinger. It’s less about availability and more about the development of prices. In order to be able to react quickly, a task force for food supply has been set up in your department. An additional challenge, however, are the impending supply bottlenecks in North Africa and the Middle East. According to the minister, most issues can only be resolved at European level. One suggestion for increasing security of supply is the cultivation of protein feed on fallow land. Here they expect a contacted decision from the EU, informed Köstinger.
The effects of the war in Ukraine were also the focus of discussions with the members of parliament. When asked by Olga Voglauer (Greens) about Austria’s contribution to preventing the “imminent famine in North Africa”, the Minister of Agriculture announced that Austria would make a total of €30 million available for food supplies. Of this, €16 million would come from the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Austrian Development Agency are responsible for coordination.
Peter Schmiedlechner (FPÖ) raised the issue of high fuel prices and inquired about plans to relieve agriculture. According to Köstinger, your department is in close contact with the Ministry of Finance, which is currently working on a relief package. The FPÖ mandatary was also interested in the current status of the plans for labeling the origin of food. At the technical level, the talks have ended, the ball is now in the hands of the new health minister, and she hopes for rapid legal implementation, said the minister. Olga Voglauer (Greens) disagreed. The reference to the indication of origin is related to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) was concerned about the sale of a large Austrian fertilizer producer “to a Russian oligarch”. The production is “essential” for Austria and should not be “in Russian hands”. According to the Minister of Agriculture, the Investment Control Act applies in this case, and the Ministry of Economics is responsible for the check here. The Ministry of Agriculture has spoken out against selling the company.
Cornelia Ecker (SPÖ) calls for the plans of the European Commission to use more CAP funds for biogas production. Köstinger assured that the prioritization would remain “first plate – then trough – then tank” in order to prevent a competitive situation.
Manfred Hofinger (ÖVP), the Minister of Agriculture announced that in 2023 the farmers’ efforts to protect biodiversity would be rewarded by increasing the bonus premiums in the ÖPUL program. With regard to the national CAP strategic plan sent to the European Commission, Köstinger expects an initial analysis in the next few weeks so that implementation can begin quickly.
Gerald Hauser (FPÖ) once again called for a “solution to the wolf problem” for the coming alpine summer. This is the only way to ensure that the animals are raised. The Minister of Agriculture also sees agriculture in mountainous areas threatened by wolves and welcomes the steps taken by individual federal states to remove wolves. (Final Agriculture Committee) med
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