In the German cities of Seelitz and Berlin, the “Peace Bread” conference “Peace and Agriculture” took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1st and 2nd, along with a series of events to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain. For the past decade, the symbol of the annual "Peace Bread" events has been rye bread, a special bread baked from rye sown and harvested in countries previously devastated by superpowers. The symbolism of "Peace Bread" is even more poignant now, as Russia's aggressive invasion of its neighbor Ukraine brings the threat of war across Europe.
"Given the geopolitical situation in Europe, and the fact that some European Union countries border aggressor states – Russia and Belarus – it is vital to implement measures that promote the economic development of the EU’s external border regions. Economic stability is the key factor for national security," said Ģirts Krūmiņš, State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, addressing participants of the "Peace and Agriculture" conference.
The conference in Berlin brought together representatives from the agricultural ministries of the participating countries. In addition to discussing peace and agriculture, participants also focused on global food security. German Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir noted that Russian aggression against Ukraine has shown that, unfortunately, peace is not guaranteed in Europe, and only in peacetime can food security be ensured. Therefore, sustainable management in agriculture is essential to providing future opportunities for the next generations of farmers.
The “Peace Bread” project provides a solid foundation for 12 Central and Eastern European countries, which joined the European Union after the fall of the Iron Curtain, to actively shape the future of EU agriculture. The EU must continue its enlargement toward Eastern Europe, which began 20 years ago, to collectively improve the Common Agricultural Policy and to create a resilient and sustainable agri-food system. Close and constructive cooperation between current and future EU member states is therefore even more important, according to Minister Cem Özdemir.
At the People’s High School in Seelitz, representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed how to attract more young people and rural youth organizations from EU member states to agricultural entrepreneurship. The social partners also adopted the 2024 Conference Declaration. Latvia was represented in Seelitz by Sandra Eimane, Chairman of the Board of the Young Farmers' Club, Linda Medne, Chairman of the Mazpulku Council, and Martins Cimermanis, Chairman of the Rural Advisory and Education Centre.
The “Peace Bread” project involves 12 EU countries: Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Hungary.
More information about the conference and the project can be found on the Peace Bread website.