Dear Prof. Boyazoglu, Representative of FAO,
Dear Dr. Bichard, Vice-president of the European Association for Animal Production
(EAAP),
Dear Prince Solms, President of ADT,
Dear Chairman, Prof. Peters.
It is a great pleasure to officially open the "Workshop on Breeding Strategies" and to convey special greetings of the Federal Minister Borchert.
This workshop in which political decision makers and animal production specialists meet is jointly organized by the Humboldt University Berlin, the Berlin International Trade Fair, and the German Breeders’ Association, in co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP). It is the 8th event of the Task Force for Animal Production in Eastern Europe which was founded in 1991 at the ad hoc meeting convened by the European Association for Animal Production in Budapest. The workshop is also the third event taking place here in Berlin, after the second round table on "The Livestock Production Sector in Eastern Europe as Effected by Current Changes" in 1992, and the workshop on "Self-help Organization in the Animal Production Sector in Eastern Europe" in 1994.
I consider today’s event as another important contribution to the East-West-dialogue.
Therefore we supported the participation of specialists from Central and Eastern Europe.
There is hardly a more suitable place for conducting East-West agricultural fora than Berlin, the city in which actions to overcome the East-West contrast are so evident. We are all aware about the enormous and complicated transformation process towards freedom and individual initiative currently happening in Eastern European countries. This process however is necessary to the benefit of people. We can offer to report about our own experiences after the reunification and the restructuring of the agricultural sector in Eastern Germany. We try to include our acquired experiences into the dialogue with your specialists; either here in Germany or at respective locations in Eastern Europe.
One experience has possibly been made by all reform countries: there are no standard concepts for the transformation process; each country has to find the most appropriate way.
We as politicians but also our specialists in the Ministries observe with great interest the progress in economic transformation happening in Central and Eastern European Reform Countries. Change is no end in itself but aims at obtaining food security for the population and at providing a major contribution to the national economy. Some countries have progressed considerably in the establishment of an agricultural sector organized as a competitive and market oriented private industry. The transformation process seems to be more difficult in those countries where free enterprise and the small trade sector has had no tradition.
Ladies and Gentlemen, why do I consider your consultation on breeding strategies for Eastern Europe important and at the same time ambitious?
- The changing market and production conditions induced by the political change require a reorientation in the animal breeding sector.
- You know better than I that the determination of breeding goals and strategies requires a orientation towards future economic conditions. Even new bio-technical breeding methods cannot change this basic paradigm.
The appropriate and effective supply of animal products for human consumption in my opinion is a priority in most of the East European countries. The sufficient supply of the national markets includes the production of animals for fattening and the provision of breeding animals.
Today, for some countries in Eastern and Central Europe the EU market provides additional production incentive. For the majority of countries represented at today's meeting the major task remains the gradual change towards the conditions of the EU market.
The European Commission has made a major step to define conditions for the import of breeding animals and animal products through the directive number 94-28. In short this directive allows Third Countries unrestricted export of breeding animals into the European Union as long as these third countries maintain the breeding standards of the Community. This consultation can contribute towards harmonizing the breeding standards. The western experts can exchange experiences about the methods in performance recording, breeding value estimation and breeding planning and at the same time learn from experts of Central and Eastern European countries how these breeding experiences have to be adjusted. I consider this a good partnership in learning and attaining mutual benefits.
Economic considerations are most important in the breeding strategies reorientation process. Ecological demands, however, are increasingly important, too. Breeding goals and breeding programmes have to be based on economic considerations, i.e. towards efficient feed conversion, new available production inputs as well as rearing and fattening techniques. At the end, however, it will be the consumer who will decide about the type of produce and the level of product quality. Changing consumer habits, induced by the abolishment of government subsidies for animal products, and also the growing purchasing power of consumers will affect consumption patterns. It is the responsibility of the animal production sector to match these market demands by reorienting the production process. In our experiences, new breeding goals and breeding strategies imply new non-governmental organizations in the animal breeding sector. These consist of breeders associations, performance recording schemes and marketing institutions which are all governed by a modem animal breeding legislation. The creation of a conducive legal framework is the particular responsibility of the agricultural policy.
A forward looking breeding policy should not neglect the current problems. In this context I think in particular bout the dramatic stock reductions in most Eastern European countries, as well as in East Germany. But I also think about the consumers who demand a timely improvement in the supply of appropriate animal products.
A more comprehensive exploitation of the existing genetic potentials by improved feeding and competent management, as well as by performance evaluation and appropriate management advice could utilize existing production reserves.
Initially I talked about suggestions which take into consideration all the difficulties attached to the implementation process. However I also know that breeders work with their animals in an engaged and responsible way. And I trust, that very useful relations can still be expanded between breeders associations in Eastern and Western Europe. Through this process we learn and benefit from your questions and problems.
Germany assists the reform process in your countries through numerous bilateral advisory projects. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture takes part in the implementation of 11 projects in Central and Eastern European countries. Other countries of the former Soviet Union and some Balkan countries receive technical assistance through our Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development.
We want to continue this co-operation and assistance program by concentrating on the following sectors:
- Assistance to Governments, Administrations and Organizations in establishing a modem agricultural administration;
- To enhance efficient management by further education of technical and management experts;
- Assisting in the reform of the agricultural legislation as well as in the introduction of private industry;,
- and assisting in the establishment of a functional co-operative system and of self-help organizations.
It is a important experience, that the co-operation of our people extends beyond the agricultural sector. The idea of change should penetrate into other sectors of the society: carrying this message is our chance and our mandate.
To secure the acceptance of our assistance we only implement those activities which was given a high priority by the partner government.
Our mutual experiences indicate that a reliable agricultural policy environment is essential for farmers. Private industry and private initiative require sufficient freedom in decision making within the framework provided by the agricultural policy. People must understand and accept the policy concepts and must be able to see their own advantage in the new order.
I am pleased to note that the bilateral Co-operation Councils and technical groups evaluate positively the German assistance in the animal breeding and in the production sector. I like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those breeding specialists engaged in projects funded by our Federal Ministry for their positive contribution to the implementation of project contracts in reform countries.
The European Union has concluded a Europe contract with Central and Eastern European Countries which is supposed to facilitate the association of these countries with the European Union. It concerns e.g. the fundamental reform of the agrarian legislation as well as the application of EU regulations for the veterinary, feed and animal breeding sector.
The criteria anticipated by the European Council for countries wanting to join the EU are:
- a functional free market economy;
- sustained competitiveness with EU markets;
- ability to fully contribute to EU obligations and;
- the ability of the EU to accommodate new members.
The agricultural sector has already started the dialogue on thematic issues of mutual interests. On 26th September 1995 the EU Agricultural Council discussed development patterns in the agricultural sector and the problems related to adopting a common agricultural policy with Central and Eastern European countries. The Federal Republic assists the expansion of the European Union involving Eastern European countries as a contribution to improve political and economical stability on our continent. The Commission of the EU has recently submitted a strategy paper concerning the agricultural sector to the European Council in Madrid. In this paper the Commission submits suggestions for a future agricultural policy of the European Union with regard to an expansion to the East. The Commission also suggests additional structural assistance for Central and Eastern European countries even before joining the EU. This complex strategy paper has already initiated a very intensive discussion. The implementation of the strategy would cause painful changes to our farmers which they would not accept. Our farmers have to realize that economic competition has increased within the European Community and on a global basis.
Our farmers increasingly know that they have to reckon with consumer wishes and views and to adjust their agriculture practices accordingly. This issue is dealt with by our Ministry 9 in a special show about "Save meat quality - from producer to consumer".
I welcome the activity of the German animal breeding sector to make of Berlin their show case. Professional meetings like this workshop will contribute to make the International Green Week in Berlin an important meeting place for Western, Central and Eastern Europe.
Ladies and Gentleman I wish you a successful workshop and I am grateful to the FA0 for analyzing and compiling the work of the Special Task Force for Eastern Europe and for bringing these results to the knowledge of the Agricultural Ministries in Eastern Europe. These results will contribute to provide support and future discussions.
