The organiser of the Conference – the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir, pointed out how healthy soil and sustainable land use are key in the fight against the global challenges of our time.

The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, pointed out the importance of research and innovation and the responsibility to safeguard the land for the future generations.

Representatives from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) highlighted the close link between access to agricultural land and ensuring local and global food security.

Access to agricultural land

During the session devoted to agricultural land management, Deputy Minister Anna Gembicka stressed that agricultural land is a special kind of good and one of the most valuable resources in existence, which is why its utilisation should not be subject solely to the laws of the market.

“Agricultural land cannot be treated as a mere commodity. Thus, the aim of the state is to ensure the rational use and protection of agricultural land. Particularly important are the legal mechanisms that provide the opportunity for state control over land management and its trade,” said Secretary of State Anna Gembicka.

The tasks connected with meeting the existing housing, economic or energy needs cannot be carried out at the expense of agricultural land. These objectives also cannot be put above food production and caring for the environment.

Deputy Minister Anna Gembicka noted that Poland is aware of the importance of agricultural land and the risks associated with land trade. Because of that, the Constitution of the Republic of Poland includes provisions that guarantee farmers access to agricultural soil and that at the same time prevent the use of this land for non-agricultural purposes. These provisions also safeguard against price abuses and ensure that farmers have priority, when it comes to acquiring agricultural soil. At the same time, in order to prevent the growing concentration of the agricultural real estate in the hands of a few giant farms, the Polish law puts an upper limit – 300 hectares – on the land owned by individual farm.

Speech by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk

The website of the Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference published an official speech by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk.

He pointed out that the main objective of agriculture is to provide healthy and safe food and ensure food security for the society.

Civilisation progress, urbanisation and climate change are causing a rapid decrease in the area of agricultural land. Obtaining a proper yield of desirable quality depends on the features of the soils, which have to be "healthy". Therefore, having our future in mind, we should pay special attention to the condition of the soils. We should encourage agricultural producers to manage their soils responsibly, accordance with up-to-date scientific knowledge and the idea of sustainable development. It is necessary to undertake actions in order to maintain the productive function of soil in the long term perspective,” said Deputy Prime Minister Kowalczyk.

“Small and medium producers should be the pillar of agricultural production and the state should support such farms, especially with regard to access to land. Poland undertakes multiple actions to secure small family farms through ensuring their workspace, which is the land, and protection against abuses in agricultural property trade. This is of significant importance for local, as well as global food security of our societies,” Polish Minister of Agriculture pointed out.

Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk’s speech is available on the event website:

https://www.gffa-berlin.de/en/berliner-agrarministerkonferenz-2/

Conclusions of today’s debate

Concluding today’s debate, the participants adopted the Final Communiqué, featuring common demands and commitments of the participating countries on sustainable land use and soil health.

14th edition of the Berlin Conference

The Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference, which is attended by ministers from all over the world, is held annually in January by the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, within the framework of International Green Week agricultural and food fair.
This year’s 14th Ministers’ Conference, which was held online due to the ongoing pandemic, was attended by 80 delegations from countries around the world and 12 international organisations and institutions.