What are the main triggers?
Ukraine War| Following its invasion by Russia, farm produce from Ukraine has found its way to Middle East, Africa, and Asia via neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Some of that Ukrainian grain ended up in local markets in these countries, driving down the prices of homegrown produce.
Climate Change | From water shortages to wildfires and floods, farmers in
Europe have been hit by extreme weather conditions in recent years. Climate change is being blamed for these troubles. Frequent droughts have affected agriculture in southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal while France and Germany have been witness to floods.
Green Policies | EU reformed its agricultural policy as part of the Green Deal in July 2023. Strict regulations were brought in to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have pushed farmers towards more sustainable, but costlier, practices. In response to the protests, the European Commission withdrew a proposal to restrict pesticides and went easy on the agriculture sector in a call to slash carbon emissions by 90% by 2040.
Where are protests happening?
France | Protests started in mid-January as farmers refused to buy into President Emmanuel Macron’s farm policies. French farmers are seeking better pay, less bureaucracy and measures against foreign competition. Protests continue despite the French govt dropping plans in Jan-end to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel
Brussels is the capital of the European Union and has been witness to a series of protests with farmers from member countries trooping into the Belgian city to pursue their demands. Belgian farmers too have been holding protests against new climate regulations
Spain | Protests started on Feb 1 amid a recordbreaking drought. Though the Spanish agriculture minister met with farmers’ unions, protesters are not willing to relent. The govt has announced $290 million aid for 140,000 farmers. Apart from cheap imports from Ukraine, farmers are unhappy with the import of tomatoes from Morocco. A sticking point is also the govt’s decision last year to cut water from the Tagus for irrigation in southeastern Spain, which could finish agriculture in the region. That would lead to the abandonment of 12,200 hectares of arable land and a loss of 15,000 jobs, farm groups said
Italy | Northeastern Italy is at risk of becoming an arid zone due to frequent droughts and high temperatures, which threaten to disrupt the sowing of cereals, legumes and vegetables. The govt plans to offer tax breaks to help farmers in distress with PM Giorgia Meloni saying 3 bn euros has been diverted from EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund to the agriculture sector
Portugal | Protests began earlier this month with farmers seeking enhancement of the sector and fair conditions. Portugal’s farm sector is facing water scarcity. In Janend, govt announced an emergency aid package worth $543 million for farmers
Greece | Last year, wildfires wiped out 20% of annual farm revenue while central Greece was hit by floods. Launching protests earlier this month, farmers are seeking tax-free fuel, debt waivers, protection from imports and quicker compensation for damage from natural disasters. The govt has expressed sympathy, but has cited budgetary constraints as a hurdle to fulfilling the demands
Germany | Farmers have been protesting since Jan against govt’s decision to phase out agricultural fuel subsidies. The govt has partially agreed to farmers’ demands, saying it would slowly phase out the proposal to cut tax privileges on fuel
Ukraine War| Following its invasion by Russia, farm produce from Ukraine has found its way to Middle East, Africa, and Asia via neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Some of that Ukrainian grain ended up in local markets in these countries, driving down the prices of homegrown produce.
Climate Change | From water shortages to wildfires and floods, farmers in
Europe have been hit by extreme weather conditions in recent years. Climate change is being blamed for these troubles. Frequent droughts have affected agriculture in southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal while France and Germany have been witness to floods.
Green Policies | EU reformed its agricultural policy as part of the Green Deal in July 2023. Strict regulations were brought in to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have pushed farmers towards more sustainable, but costlier, practices. In response to the protests, the European Commission withdrew a proposal to restrict pesticides and went easy on the agriculture sector in a call to slash carbon emissions by 90% by 2040.
Where are protests happening?
France | Protests started in mid-January as farmers refused to buy into President Emmanuel Macron’s farm policies. French farmers are seeking better pay, less bureaucracy and measures against foreign competition. Protests continue despite the French govt dropping plans in Jan-end to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel
Brussels is the capital of the European Union and has been witness to a series of protests with farmers from member countries trooping into the Belgian city to pursue their demands. Belgian farmers too have been holding protests against new climate regulations
Spain | Protests started on Feb 1 amid a recordbreaking drought. Though the Spanish agriculture minister met with farmers’ unions, protesters are not willing to relent. The govt has announced $290 million aid for 140,000 farmers. Apart from cheap imports from Ukraine, farmers are unhappy with the import of tomatoes from Morocco. A sticking point is also the govt’s decision last year to cut water from the Tagus for irrigation in southeastern Spain, which could finish agriculture in the region. That would lead to the abandonment of 12,200 hectares of arable land and a loss of 15,000 jobs, farm groups said
Italy | Northeastern Italy is at risk of becoming an arid zone due to frequent droughts and high temperatures, which threaten to disrupt the sowing of cereals, legumes and vegetables. The govt plans to offer tax breaks to help farmers in distress with PM Giorgia Meloni saying 3 bn euros has been diverted from EU’s post-pandemic recovery fund to the agriculture sector
Portugal | Protests began earlier this month with farmers seeking enhancement of the sector and fair conditions. Portugal’s farm sector is facing water scarcity. In Janend, govt announced an emergency aid package worth $543 million for farmers
Greece | Last year, wildfires wiped out 20% of annual farm revenue while central Greece was hit by floods. Launching protests earlier this month, farmers are seeking tax-free fuel, debt waivers, protection from imports and quicker compensation for damage from natural disasters. The govt has expressed sympathy, but has cited budgetary constraints as a hurdle to fulfilling the demands
Germany | Farmers have been protesting since Jan against govt’s decision to phase out agricultural fuel subsidies. The govt has partially agreed to farmers’ demands, saying it would slowly phase out the proposal to cut tax privileges on fuel
