Thousands protest in Berlin against industrialised agriculture

A sign with a drawing depicting German minister for Food and Agriculture Julia Kloeckner heading to Brussels pulling a handbarrow with boxes reading “agriculture lobby, Pesticides, glyphosate and Bayer” is fixed at a tractor taking part in a rally for climate justice, animal welfare, low impact farming and good food on January 19, 2019 in Berlin. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Thousands of protesters, backed by a procession of farm tractors, marched in Berlin Saturday for environmental protection and against the industrial agriculture lobby.

Police put the number of demonstrators at over 12,000, while organizers said 35,000 turned out.

While the “Grune Woche” international agricultural fair was taking place in the German capital, the protesters took aim at government policy which prioritized large-scale farming, deemed damaging to health and the environment, to the detriment of small farmers and bio-growers.

“This protest… shows that the desire for a different agricultural policy is now undeniable,” said Green party co-leader Robert Habeck, who took part in Saturday’s demonstration.

Conservative Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner has received “an unequivocal message” from the street, said Saskia Richartz, spokeswoman for the protest organizers.

“We can’t feed the whole world if we reduce industrial agricultural production,” the agriculture minister responded, while admitting that the sector needs to be “more efficient and respectful of the environment”.

More than 100 organisations took part in Saturday’s colourful march, with 171 tractors descending on Berlin from several parts of the country.

The ministerial quarter around Brandenburg Gate remained partially blocked for several hours before the protest broke up peacefully.

© Agence France-Presse