Monday and Tuesday 8 and 9 April, Armands Krauze, the Minister for Agriculture, will participate in an informal meeting of the EU Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries in Limburg (Belgium) where Member States will discuss possibilities to ensure self-sufficiency in protein crops because until now the EU has not been able to grow the neccessary amount of protein crops.
Protein crops, for example, beans, peas, soya, etc. are valuable sources of protein both in human food and animal feed. Currently, EU is higly dependent on imports of protein crops. Enhancing development of protein crop growing, will be beneficial both for national economies of Member States and farmers. The EU objective, upon introducing new protein crops and facilitating growing of the existing crops, is becoming independent from imports of protein crops.