The environmental protection organization World Wildlife Fund (WWF) believes that agriculture in the European Union makes only a limited contribution to the global food supply. The EU is not a granary but an expensive supermarket, the organization says in the report 'Europe eats the world'.
The background to the WWF conclusion is, among other things, that the EU mainly exports high-quality foodstuffs such as chocolate or meat, but imports cheap products such as cocoa or animal feed. “In many countries around the world, people need grain, not corned beef and chardonnay,” said WWF reporter Tanja Dräger.
The report published Monday highlights that the EU countries imported more calories and protein – including in the form of animal feed – than in other countries. They take 11 percent of the calories and 26 percent of the protein from other markets.
The environmentalists are calling for a rethink of European agriculture. Only a more sustainable food system can guarantee food security at home and abroad. At the moment, for example, at least half of the grain production in the EU ends up in the trough as animal feed.
WWF believes that the EU should produce and consume differently. For example, livestock must be reduced and a greater proportion of arable land must be used for human food; not for animal feed.