"Bread for Peace: no food security, no peace
On 1-2 October, Minister of Agriculture Kazys Starkevičius participated in the tenth international „Bread of Peace” event, which aims to consolidate the role of sustainable agriculture in preserving world peace and to foster cooperation between national institutions and the non-governmental sector in responding to the challenges faced by farmers.
This annual event, which takes place in a different country each year, brings together the Ministers of Agriculture and representatives of various non-governmental organisations from the twelve countries that were behind the "Iron Curtain" during the Soviet era (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia). Since this year, representatives of Ukraine and Finland have become regular guests of the event.
The event was first held in Germany in 2014, when rye was grown on the former Berlin Wall area, the so-called "death line", and its seeds were then sown in the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union after 1989. This year's anniversary event took place at the same location. Peace bread is baked with grain grown for the occasion.
Focus on food security issues
The discussion among ministers and other government representatives at the „Peace and Agriculture“ forum focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and the huge challenges this poses for Ukrainian farmers.
Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture Vitaliy Koval stressed that it is extremely important for them to be close to the EU countries, to follow their example and to follow their path. Ukraine's integration into Europe will accelerate after the end of the war, but the challenges of ageing farmers, attracting young people to the sector and the consequences of the Russian war - mined fields, damaged infrastructure, etc.
Minister Starkevičius welcomed the addition of a country that is going through a difficult phase in its national life and that is defending not only its own freedom and independence, but that of all of us.
„That is why we must work together to solve any problem that is common to all, regardless of their level of development. Agriculture and food must not become an instrument of political coercion," said Minister Starkevičius, who stressed the importance of limiting the import of Russian agricultural and food products into the EU.
Forum host – German Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir – stressed that without food security there will be no peace and without peace there will be no security. He also welcomed the fact that the representatives of the countries gathered agree on the threat that Ukraine has to face and stressed that it is our duty to help. All participants agreed on the need to maintain an active dialogue in Europe that would lead to peace and the promotion of agricultural prosperity.
The event focused on the initiatives implemented by the Bread of Peace over the last 10 years, and looked at the work done and the prospects. It was unanimously agreed that this is a much-needed platform whose importance for all of us is greater than ever before. Minister Starkevičius thanked G. Schenk, the initiator and promoter of the "Bread of Peace", for his unwavering faith and for the opportunity to bring together like-minded people with a painful historical experience.
