German farmers in tractors rally for sustainability and fair prices

A thousand German farmers continued their series of protests on Saturday calling for more environmental and animal protection and opposing genetic engineering and unfair prices.

Several hundred people gathered in front of the governing Social Democratic Party headquarters at midday for the start of the agricultural demonstration, police said.

Some 1,000 demonstrators with several dozen tractors marched from there to the chancellery in Berlin's government district, to the sound of honking horns, drums and bagpipe music.

The rally, which was joined by another 7,000 protesters in front of the chancellery, was held under the banner, "Good food needs a future - for GMO-free, rural and environmentally friendly agriculture!"

Some 40 to 50 tractors made their way to the German capital in the morning, with some holding banners such as "Farmers' land belongs in farmers' hands", "Food is political!" and "Farmers before corporate interests."

Farmers and other groups staged their protest to coincide with International Green Week, an agricultural fair in Berlin, calling for more sustainable agricultural policy.

Representatives of an alliance calling itself "We are fed up!" handed a note of protest to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir entitled "Stop injustice and hunger ­ strengthen farmers' rights around the world."

It contained criticism of government hesitancy in planning and financing reforms to animal husbandry, in particular.

Özdemir accepted the protest note from the demonstrators, who had arrived at the Berlin trade fair grounds where Green Week is being held with dozens of tractors.

Özdemir called for support in implementing issues that had been left unattended. "Help me to get a majority [in parliament] for them," he told the protestors.

German farmers are angry at cuts to subsidies on fuel and at increasing restrictions on environmental grounds without compensation.

The farmers' alliance backs more sustainable agriculture, holding demonstrations with the slogan: "Good food demands a future – for environmentally sound agriculture without genetic technology."

A broad alliance of older and younger farmers, along with other groups, such as beekeepers, was present. They called for a varied agricultural sector, less bureaucracy and enhanced democracy.

The rally was attended by German and international environmental groups including Fridays for Future.

Speaking earlier to agriculture ministers from around the world, Özdemir highlighted the significance of the battle against hunger for global security.

"Secure food is a contribution to peace," Özdemir told delegates from around 70 countries.

A tenth of the world's 8 billion people went to bed hungry, he said, adding that global warming, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts were exacerbating the situation.

Global cooperation required the transfer of knowledge and for countries to secure their own food supplies, Özdemir said.

Özdemir, who sits in parliament for the Greens, defended Germany's international engagement against criticism within the country that its resources should be used for its own people.

"By helping others, we are helping ourselves," he said. This contributed to international security, he said.

Speaking for Brazil, which holds the G20 presidency this year, Agriculture Minister Paulo Teixeira stressed the role of small farmers and of women.

African Union Agriculture Commissioner Josefa Sacko noted the shocks to African food supplies from the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine war. This had made clear the significance of cooperation for improved food supply, she said.