Planas rules out short-term cereal shortages, but admits that alternatives to Ukraine are being sought

Planas rules out short-term cereal shortages, but admits that alternatives to Ukraine are being sought



Carlos Manso ChicoteFOLLOW, CONTINUEMadrid Updated: 03/03/2022 13:58h
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The war in Ukraine permeates everything and this Thursday has been practically the main issue addressed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas at the meeting of the Agrarian Advisory Committee, which includes the main agrarian organizations (Asaja, COAG and UPA ). Planas has ensured that "from the point of view of food supply there are no short-term risks." This is a particularly sensitive issue, since the fodder that feeds livestock is made from cereals such as corn, and in recent years the Ukraine has been the main 'barn' of Spain, with a deficit in the production of this type of crop (corn, wheat , ...). With this market annulled by the war and its Russian competitor closed for political reasons, the minister acknowledged during the press conference after the Advisory Committee meeting that "alternative sources from the point of view of supply" are already being sought both for crops such as corn and for everything related to fertilizers.

Specifically, Planas explained that the main concern is "in the situation that arises with 22% of the volume of corn, about 2.7 million tons that we import from Ukraine". The minister added that there is no concern in the short term since "imports are made between December and February and most of the 2021 and 2022 campaign has already been carried out." So he believes that "we have a certain margin of future forecasting" to find alternative markets.

Flexibility

But, what is the Minister of Agriculture proposing to Brussels? Planas believes that if the European Commission takes certain measures "it would be easier." To do this, it has put four proposals on the table: the first is the relaxation of phytosanitary requirements for some corn imports, especially from countries such as Argentina "with restrictions on the use of residue limits and certain phytosanitary products." What the minister has extended to other imports such as soybeans, "always under the control of the Food Safety Agency of the European Union." In this sense, the minister does not believe that in view of the complexity of the context this will generate debates around transgenics.

The head of Agriculture has also opted for "flexibility" in the use of surfaces within the regulation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), especially in everything related to the "conditionality and diversification of crops, as well as those surfaces with ecological purposes" . In other words, Planas asks Brussels to allow the use of these lands to grow corn or other similar crops. "The priority is to have production, any element is positive and this will contribute, without a doubt," he pointed out.

Finally, from the Ministry of Agriculture they have asked Brussels to mobilize the “food crisis response mechanism” created by the pandemic and Planas has revealed that there will be a meeting on March 9 of the group of experts. In addition, the minister has asked the community authorities to mobilize in forums such as the FAO and the G20 "so that international flows are not interrupted." In this sense, he has warned against the increase in grain prices and its impact on countries such as Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia.

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