An issue of national importance. Interview with Ignas Hofmann, Minister of Agriculture (VIDEO)

The government's recognition of agriculture and food as an area of national security is one of the best news for the farming community in years. It is understood that this decision will have to be approved by Parliament in the autumn, but the fact that the Government has made agriculture one of the most important areas of national life says a lot.

"That law covers food security and agriculture. Because agriculture is the basis for that. It's where the raw materials are grown, it's where the produce is grown, which then, in many cases, goes into processing and then reaches the consumer," Agriculture Minister Ignas Hofmanas told Agrobitei.

He said that under this law, if adopted by the Seimas, agricultural operators will have better access to energy and other resources necessary for agricultural production. This could even include fertilisers or animal feed and feed supplements.

During our conversation, which covered a number of topics related to the law, Mr Hofman was surprised by a European Union regulation that bans farmers from selling electricity if they produce it in biogas plants.

"This is incomprehensible. We have raised this issue with the European Commission, but unfortunately no decisions have been made, no changes have been made," said Mr Hofmann.

The Minister argues that the adoption of the law will allow farmers to argue for favourable decisions by the government on the grounds that agriculture is recognised as a sector of national importance.

Here's how the vision of the grain processing cooperative "Grūdai LT" relates to the law, and how the law will help agriculture in general, in this interview with Minister of Agriculture I. Hofmanas.

Interview prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania.