Small Austrian farm protest no match for CETA
Many farmers of the small farms in Austria are disappointed that the Austrian Parliament has agreed on the transatlantic trade treaty, CETA.
The IG-Milch organisation has fought for the trade to sell milk and milk products at higher prices, as small farms struggle to survive with present milk prices, for several years. As part of their campaign A Faire Milch, the organistion also took aim against the trade treaties TTIP, CETA and TISA, which IG-Milch fears will make it impossible for small farms to survive economically.
Before the CETA vote in Austria, IG-Milch sent an open letter to the parliament, where it was mentioned that as part of the “Farmers against TTIP, CETA and TiSA” initiative, 79 local farmers’ committees and 2,195 farmers in Austria signed a resolution for TTIP- and CETA-free agriculture.
“In CETA you see a threat to peasant agriculture in Austria and in Europe and Canada. The increasing pressure of competition, as a result of increased trade in products produced by agroindustries would expose farmer agriculture to a price-busting existence. Quality, environmental and social standards, as well as the precautionary principle come under pressure. At the same time, regulatory cooperation opens the door to the influence of agribusiness and corporations,” the open letter says.
The letter was signed by David Jelinek and Johann Kriechbaum, chairmen of the Austrian Mountain and Smallholder Association and ÖBV-Via Campesina Austria, by Ewald Grünzweil, chairman of IG-Milch and by Clemens Stammler, chairman of the Green Farmers.
However, with the vote for the CETA these organisations received a blow.
