Response:

"Protecting and using our natural resources is an ongoing theme for me. I also live this by buying almost exclusively in my village store and especially regional products. Our shopping and eating habits can make more of a difference than any other measure. Nevertheless, the four "big players" in the food industry dominate 85 percent of the market.

My experience shows that for many people, regionalism stops where a cow barn is to be built around the corner. If, for you, agricultural change means burdening farmers with even higher standards and requirements, then the small farms will be the first to strike out. They will be crushed between the interests of large corporations and food retailers on the one hand, and dubious campaigns by certain organizations on the other, which use fear and scare tactics to raise money.

In the end, neither the market nor the consumers pay higher prices for more and more regulations. Unfortunately, since we cannot seal off our market, the "greed is cool" mentality will continue to dominate. It is well known that agriculture and forestry are the only industries that produce oxygen and sequester carbon. But even here, we're fighting to make sure we don't get shortchanged in the Green Deal because of conflicts of interest.

We can do without a lot of things, but not our daily food. That's why I'm fighting for the farmer around the corner - whether organic or conventional. Food produced in Germany has never been as safe as it is today. COVID-19 makes us realize, "Does it have to get worse for it to get better and for us to value what's really important: our high-quality food supply in our own country!"

Contact:

Tel: +32 228 47 312

marlene.mortler(at)europarl.europa.eu

www.marlenemortler.de