Ministry of Agriculture press releases and news

Minister of Agriculture: competitive agriculture is the best food security guarantee

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Addressing the Parliament of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder, the Minister of Agriculture, told that Estonia must ask itself where is the balance between industrial production and traditional family farms and how to maintain food production and the more purposeful use of land resources.

Late last night, the Parliament of Estonia adopted the declaration on "Estonian agriculture and the reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy", appealing to the EU Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission for a system of direct payments ensuring competitive parity for all farmers of the European Union.

According to the Minister’s words, lower salaries, higher diligence, rapid concentration of industry and industrialisation concurrent with the complicated situation of family farms have been the price Estonian agriculture forced to compete on unequal terms has had to pay for survival. „Besides efficient large-scale agriculture we also need small-scale farming, family farms, to maintain rural settlement and landscapes and to diversify agricultural production,“ said Seeder and added that in Estonia the supply of food, the production for export and the introduction of modern technology will mainly concern large producers in the future.

The Minister of Agriculture declared that Estonia wishes competitive parity. „Perpetuating the differences between incomes and standards of living with different direct payments cannot be the aim of the Common Agricultural Policy. Estonia does not wish higher support payments but equal opportunities on the EU internal market,“ said Seeder.

„Competitive agriculture is the best food security guarantee. But this requires competitive parity. The last version of the negotiation paper on the EU new financial period provides that „in a more equal distribution of direct payments between the Member States the still existing differences in wage levels, purchasing power, outputs of the sector of agriculture and input prices are considered“. „I don’t understand how is it possible that despite considering all those indicators direct payments can differ so much between the Member States,“ said Seeder.

„I want to extend my thanks to the members of the Parliament for your initiative, attention and support given to Estonian agriculture with this declaration. This means that the success of the sector of agriculture of recent years has been met with approval, but it also gives the public a message that agriculture is one of the priorities of Estonia,“ the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder acknowledged the members of the Parliament.

Karin Volmer
Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia
Press Officer
e-mail: karin.volmer@agri.ee
phone: +372 625 6254
mobile: +372 5696 4876

Estonia and Georgia Signed a Cooperation Programme

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

On 20 June, Mr. Peeter Seestrand, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia, and Mr. Konstantine Kobaxidze, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia, signed a bilateral cooperation programme for the period 2012–2014.

The programme provides the enhancement of cooperation and joint projects particularly in the fields of food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, agricultural policy, economic and trade relations, market development, agricultural advisory system and vocational education, and between professional organisations.

„Cooperation between the Ministries of Agriculture of Georgia and Estonia has been very successful and we greatly appreciate Estonian expert assistance,“ said Mr. Konstantine Kobaxidze, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia. „Today, Georgia is actively working at the development of the sector of agriculture and rural areas. The conclusion of a free trade agreement with the European Union is one of the most important objectives of the nearest future. The reform experience of Estonia helps us a lot.“

The cooperation programme signed today is the continuation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the beginning of the year 2010. The document signed by the Ministers of Agriculture of Estonia and Georgia Mr. Helir-Valdor Seeder and Mr. Bakur Kvezereli provided the basis for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations in the fields of agriculture and food production.

„So far, our cooperation has been extremely fruitful,“ said Mr. Peeter Seestrand, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia. „In the past, we received considerable support from foreign experts and our reform experience is still rather fresh. As a Member State of the EU, we consider the transfer of our knowledge to the countries just taking the road we have already passed to be our task. Considering the development potential of Georgia, I believe in their capacity to move on towards their goal to modernise agriculture.“

Additional information:

Karin Volmer
Press Officer
Ministry of Agriculture
phone: +372 625 6254
e-mail: karin.volmer@agri.ee

The European Parliament is ready to support the harmonisation of direct support

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The European Parliament is ready to consider the suggestion by the Baltic States regarding the harmonisation of agricultural direct support and make a corresponding proposal in their June report.

Last night, the Ministers of Agriculture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania met with the Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Mr Paolo de Castro. Castro introduced the discussions at the European Parliament regarding the report on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which is due on June 18.

According to the Minister of Agriculture Mr Helir-Valdor Seeder, de Castro confirmed that the Parliament is ready to consider the proposal by the Baltic States for a faster harmonisation of direct support with other EU Member States and make a corresponding proposal in their report.

Additional information:

Merike Lees
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
phone: +372 625 6561
e-mail: merike.lees@agri.ee

The Minister of Agriculture is participating at the conference of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO)

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder is participating today at the FAO Regional Conference for Europe in Baku and will give a speech there.

The conference will give an overview on the last session of the food security committee and its reform and discuss the priorities of the European region for the near future.

“The FAO has been successful in recent years in bringing the issues of food and agriculture to the center of global attention,” said Seeder. “This is inevitable in a situation, where world population is fast growing; there are severe food crises and human activities cause pressure on nature and natural resources.”

The question of feeding the world is not only connected to producing food and the agricultural sector. According to Seeder, the two most efficient means for feeding the world are the level of education, which enables to use scientific achievements and innovative solutions to develop the agricultural sector and a stable, sustainable economic environment, which ensures growth also in the food-producing sector.

The Minister will also participate at the roundtable for agriculture ministers with the theme “The future of world food and agriculture 2050”.

Additional information:

Merike Lees
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
phone: +372 625 6561
e-mail: merike.lees@agri.ee

Estonia Becomes the Donor for International Agricultural Assistance

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia became the member of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today, which gives us an opportunity to contribute to ensuring the stability of developing countries.

“The global relevance of agricultural assistance has increased significantly in recent years and the price fluctuations of food commodities affect the continuation of this trend,” said the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder. “The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to share international responsibility and contribute as much as possible to food security, as well as solving problems related to environmentally friendly agriculture and rural development,” explained Seeder.

The president of IFAD Kanayo F. Nwanze said at the general meeting held today that each dollar implemented through IFAD becomes sixfold and significantly increases the influence of assistance.

Estonian enterprises now have the possibility to participate equally with other fund members in project competitions for goods, services and consultations.

Background information

The goal of IFAD is to alleviate poverty in the rural areas of developing countries by financing projects to develop agriculture.

The UN’s special organization established in 1976 has so far invested 12 billion US dollars into 860 projects and programmes, which have affected about 370 million rural inhabitants with very low income. Resources are allocated according to the need to increase food production and improve the nutrition level of the poorest people; attention is also paid on improving the living conditions.

As of today, IFAD has 169 members, including donor and developing countries of OPEC and OECD member states.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
+372 625 6254, +372 529 1403

Baltic States are planning joint steps to influence the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania continue their discussions to specify common positions and tactical approach in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union.

The Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder met yesterday in Riga with his Latvian and Lithuanian colleagues and also with the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament Sandra Kalniete and Mairead McGuinness.

"We were looking for common position and tactics to achieve the equalization of direct support," said Seeder. The topics regarding greening, export subsidies and cutting support levels were also under discussion, as they are topics were common positions need to be developed as well.

Minister Seeder also met with the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament Solvita Āboltina.

The Ministers of Agriculture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the Heads of agriculture organizations signed a joint declaration in Berlin on 20 January demanding a fast harmonization of direct support. The joint declaration states that lower support levels of the Baltic States compared to other EU Member States hinder the possibilities of Baltic farmers to compete in the common market.

Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian representatives find that support levels of Member States have to differ from each other as little as possible during the next budget period.

Latvia Supports Estonian Demands for the Harmonisation of Agricultural Support

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder met today with the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of Latvia who supported the Estonian demands for faster harmonisation of direct support.

I am very glad that we share the same positions with Latvia regarding the harmonisation of direct support between Member States,” said Seeder. Tactics how to find allies to our positions were discussed at the meetings with the Prime Minister of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis and Minister of Agriculture of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma.

"Due to the substantial differences between the levels of direct support, it is impossible to achieve the same goals. If equal stable income is not ensured for the farmers, agricultural holdings in rural areas and therefore the development of all of Europe are at risk," explained Seeder. He added that the Common Agricultural Policy has to comply with the basic principles of the European Union, which foresee equal competition conditions in the Member States.

Estonia has started to look for support for the harmonisation of direct support on the international level. According to Seeder, the redistribution of support is the most complex topic of the negotiations.

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder has set the goal of meeting with his colleagues in different Member States, in order to introduce the Estonian positions regarding the Common Agricultural Policy.

Press release forwarded by:

Karina Loi
Press Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6254
Mobile: +372 529 1403
Email: karina.loi@agri.ee

Estonian Contact Centre Based on Skype Technology was Opened in Rome

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder opened the Estonian Contact Centre at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Seeder said to the representatives of different countries who participated in the opening that this centre is Estonia’s additional contribution to global communication process. “Communication possibilities, which are free of charge make the world smaller, bring different nations and cultures closer to each other and give a better opportunities for the representatives of countries with smaller income to communicate with the world,” said Seeder.

The centre has two booths, which have been equipped with videophones using Skype technology and enabling free video calls all over the planet. The ribbon with Estonian national motifs was cut by Minister Seeder and the Director General of FAO Jacques Diouf. Diouf acknowledged Estonia’s success in the usage of different IT solutions and assured that Skype is used daily by many FAO employees.

The Estonian Contact Centre was established as a joint project between Estonia and the FAO, videophones were given by Skype. Further maintenance costs will be covered by the FAO.

During his visit to Rome, Minister Seeder also met with the Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Yukiko Omura. Estonia is one of the few members of the OECD, which does not belong to the IFAD. Membership in the IFAD, which has more than 150 member countries, would give Estonia better possibilities for sharing our experience in the transition to market economy with countries, where the transition is still ongoing.

Additional information:

Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: 00 372 6256 255, 00 372 6256 254
Email: press@agri.ee

Seeder: We expect Ukraine to lower customs duties for fish

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine Nikolay Pryasyazhnuk promised at today’s meeting with the Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder to actively deal with the problems connected to custom duties, which hinders the export of Estonian fish to Ukraine.

Last year, Ukraine suddenly enforced high customs duties for Estonian fish and the fish of other European Union countries, which has considerably hindered Estonian export to Ukraine.

"Very high tax percentage is not the problem, but the fact that Ukraine has enforced too high minimum prices for sprat and Baltic herring, which are the basis for calculating customs duties," explained Seeder. "Fish export to Ukraine accounts for a significant amount of Estonian total export in that direction, which is why these barriers to trade are very negative for Estonia."

From fish products, Estonia has been mostly exporting Baltic herring and sprat to Ukraine and in this field, Ukraine has been one of the biggest export markets for Estonia. Frozen fish is exported to Ukraine, which is reprocessed there.

In addition to problems connected to fish export, the ministers also discussed cooperation between the two countries. "Ukraine is interested in our experience in the field of developing fisheries and carrying out structural reforms," said Seeder.

Additional information:

Toomas Kevvai
Deputy Secretary General for
Rural Development and Fisheries Policy
Phone: 00372 6256 105
Email: toomas.kevvai@agri.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: 00372 6256 255, 00372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The Ministers of Agriculture Emphasised the Importance of Food Safety

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

EU Agriculture Ministers discussed at their extraordinary session today in Hungary the crisis in the vegetable market caused by the contamination of cucumbers with E.coli and emphasised the importance of food safety.

"This incident proves again how important and also vulnerable is food safety in the context of modern global trade," said the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder. "Such cases show how vital is functional surveillance and international cooperation in this field."

The Ministers reached a conclusion that the source of contamination has to be discovered and consumers have to be informed as soon as possible. Most important today is ensuring a sense of security for the consumers and the ministers believe that this can be achieved only by leaning on the facts.

By today, contaminated cucumber lots have been made certain but the source of contamination is still unknown – contamination might have taken place during production, transport, processing or somewhere else. The European Commission, as well as respective bodies of Member States are included in the investigation. Many vegetable growers of several countries have already asked for assistance from the Commission due to great economic losses. According to the Commission, existing legislative possibilities have to be used for the time being. Should the crisis expand even further, emergency intervention, which requires the ministersʼ decision, can come under discussion.

Seeder says that the health and safety of people and discovering the source of contamination as quickly as possible are of greatest importance, because these help to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents in the future. "Member States should definitely not impose restrictions on their market on economic reasons in light of this incident," added Seeder.

The second issue discussed at the meeting dealt with the situation of the livestock sector – this also from the point of view of food safety. According to Seeder, animal welfare requirements mainly express the requirements enforced on animal health and keeping conditions. "One of the corner stones of the EU Common Agricultural Policy is ensuring our consumers healthy and safe food," stated Seeder. "We need to make sure that importers fulfil the same conditions as well, because on the one hand, it is important for the consumers and on the other hand, it ensures equal competition."

Additional information:

Peeter Seestrand
Deputy Secretary General for Foreign Relations and Development
Phone: 00372 6256 129
Email: peeter.seestrand@agri.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: 00372 6256 255, 00372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

China is searching for agricultural contacts in Estonia

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Chinese agricultural delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Chen Xiaohua is visiting Estonia to establish contacts with Estonian agricultural enterprises, in order to enliven trade relations between the two countries.

"As a big country, China clearly understands the challenges ahead regarding global food security and is, therefore, searching for cooperation partners all over the world", said the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder. "It is definitely a good opportunity for the Estonian entrepreneurs to increase their export volumes."

A business forum between the Chinese delegation and Estonian entrepreneurs shall take place today at hotel Olümpia. Furthermore, the ministers of China and Estonia shall sign a Memorandum of Cooperation today, which establishes the directions of cooperation between the two countries.

In addition, the Chinese delegation will visit Kadarbiku Farm, the Competence Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies, the Animal Breeders Association of Estonia and Estonia Ltd.

The Chinese agricultural delegation will be in Estonia until Saturday.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: (+372) 6256 255, (+372) 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The Turkish Minister of Agriculture is receiving the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana today

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Turkish Minister of Agriculture Mehmet Mehdi Eker is on a visit to Estonia today. Mr. Eker will meet the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder and receive the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana from President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

According to Minister Seeder, cooperation between Estonia and Turkey has tightened especially in recent years and its remarkable accomplishment is a cooperation agreement for exporting Estonian breeding animals to Turkey. "It is a great recognition to Estonian animal breeding, because Turkish interest towards our animals is several times bigger than what we can satisfy," mentioned Seeder. "There are only a few countries in the European Union, who can sell their animals to Turkey."

At today’s meeting, the ministers are discussing further cooperation, because Turkey is very interested in engaging Estonian specialists and their knowledge to the reform of their agriculture. "We have already started with the first project on the topic and Estonian experts have already carried out their first trainings in Turkey," said Seeder.

The Minister of Agriculture of Turkey shall also participate today at 1 pm at a reception at the Estonian Bank, where the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves will present national decorations. Mr. Eker shall receive the 3rd class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Changes of food products retail prices in January

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The purchasing price of milk increased 31% with one year (as of December). In comparison to December 2008, the price has increased 17%.

The purchasing price of wheat (for food) has increased 86% with a year. In comparison with the price two years ago, growth has been 84%. The purchasing price of rye (for food) has increased 142% with one year, 79% in two year comparison. Pork purchasing price has increased 6,5% with one year.

According to the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, the price increase of food products slowed down in January, many items became cheaper when compared to the previous month (milk, sour cream, coffee cream, minced meat, broiler, frankfurters, chicken eggs, potato, carrot, cucumber and tomato). With the last month, the prices of cabbage (+30,2%), cooled trout (+30,2%), sugar (+6,6%), boned pork roast (+6,4%) and butter (+3,3%) increased. The prices of dark and white bread increased less than one percent. From milk products, the price of butter increased, prices of other products decreased. Production prices of vegetables and potatoes increased in January, fresh cucumber became cheaper. In supermarkets, vegetables became cheaper, only fresh cabbage (+30,2%) became more expensive. Also unpacked potatoes (-4,2%) and fresh cucumber (-23,5%) became cheaper.

Compared to January last year, the price of milk products, dark and white bread, vegetables and fish has increased considerably for the consumers. Milk in a plastic package (+43,4%), coffee cream (+34,4%), sour cream (+33,1%), kefir (+30,4%), cheese (+17,1%) and butter (+16,2%) were more expensive than a year ago. From meat and meat products, the price of pork decreased, but the prices of beef, broiler, minced meat and frankfurters increased. In yearly comparison, the price of white bread in supermarkets increased +7,1% and dark bread +4,5%. In the supermarkets, prices of all vegetables increased with the last year, including cabbage (+231,6%), fresh cucumber (+18,4%), imported tomato (+16,7%) and carrot (+14,4%). The price of unpacked potato increased (+44,9%) with one year.

The average retail price of motor fuel (95E) in automated gas stations was 1.20 €/l in January, which was 14% higher than a year ago. The price of diesel fuels increased 16% with the last year.

Prices of food products (Average price of Estonian shops, local products, €/kg)

	Price in Euros	Price in Euros	Price change (%)
	January 2006	January 2011	January 2011/ December 2010	January 2011/ January 2010	January 2011/ January 2006
Milk (2,5 % plastic)	0,41	0,65	-0,5	43,4	58,5
Kefir (plastic)	0,53	0,73	0,2	30,4	37,7
Sour cream (20%, plastic)	1,29	1,91	-0,5	33,1	48,0
Coffee cream	1,32	1,90	-2,3	34,4	43,9
Butter	4,36	6,99	3,3	16,2	60,3
Cheese	5,36	7,24	0,0	17,1	35,1
Pork roast, boned	4,46	4,76	6,4	-4,9	6,7
Minced meat (mix of beef and pork)	3,43	4,33	-1,2	2,7	26,2
Broiler	2,52	2,61	1,6	1,1	3,6
Frankfurters	3,14	3,77	-0,8	0,5	20,1
Egg (L+M)(piece)	0,10	0,12	-5,6	-4,2	20,0
Trout, cooled	6,22	7,94	30,2	41,4	27,7
Dark bread	1,03	1,59	0,3	4,5	54,4
White bread	1,11	1,55	0,7	7,1	39,6
Potato, unpacked	0,31	0,39	-4,2	44,9	25,8
Cabbage	0,23	0,64	30,2	231,6	178,3
Carrot	0,48	0,47	-6,4	14,4	-0,2
Cucumber	3,74	3,11	-23,5	18,4	-17,0
Tomato (import)	1,48	1,87	-16,8	16,7	26,4

* Prices are collected on the first week of the month.

Estonian Institute of Economic Research
phone (+372) 668 1242
fax (+372) 668 1240
e-mail eki@ki.ee
www.ki.ee/en

Estonian contact centre is established in Rome

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) Jacques Diouf and the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder are signing an agreement via Skype on Monday on establishing an Estonian Skype contact centre in Rome at the headquarters of FAO.

The agreement is signed via Skype and in its framework, a contact centre with two videophones is created at the headquarters of FAO in Rome. Estonia supports the establishment of the contact centre with 13 700 Euros and the agreement is valid for three years.

According to the Estonian representative to FAO Ruve Schank, one goal of the centre is to bring Estonia closer to those FAO members who have not really been aware of our country so far. "On the other hand, we can offer a possibility for free communication with our homeland for the representatives of countries with more modest possibilities," said Schank.

Additional information:
Ruve Schank
Estonian representative to FAO
Phone: +372 52 70 002
E-mail: ruve.schank@mfa.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
E-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Estonia is aspiring to become a partner country to the biggest agricultural fair

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia is aspiring to become a partner country in 2013to the biggest agricultural and food fair Grüne Woche held in Berlin. This will probably give Estonia the biggest chance of self-promotion in history both in Germany and the whole world.

The fair, which takes place in Berlin in January each year, is visited by almost half a million people, the fair and activities of its partner country are reflected by more than 7000 journalists from more than 50 countries and within ten days of the fair, the event is brought into attention in the media of different countries for tens of thousands of times.

”These numbers show what kind of opportunities to introduce oneself being a partner country of the fair will give Estonia,” said the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder. “Estonia has experience with organizing different big events and as a state we should definitely use this opportunity. It would undoubtedly be the biggest project of Estonia’s self-promotion, which actually is a lot more extensive than just the events of the Green Week.”

On Friday, the Estonian delegation met on the same topic with Raimond Hosch, the chairman of the board of Messe Berlin, which is the organizer of Grüne Woche, who supported Estonia’s aspirations. Estonia’s aspirations were also supported by the German Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner and agricultural ministers of several federal states.

According the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture Andres Oopkaup, Estonia will celebrate its 20 participation year at Grüne Woche in 2013, which is why this year would be very suitable for being a partner country. “The decision on the partner country for 2013 will be made in autumn this year,” mentioned Oopkaup.

Grüne Woche lasts in Berlin until January 30. The central theme of this year’s Estonian stand is the sea and fish products. Estonian stand reflects well the main theme of this year’s Capital of Culture Tallinn – Stories of the Seashore.

In the framework of the fair, Seeder also met with the Minister of Agriculture of Russia, with whom the plans are to sign a memorandum of cooperation in the future. Also, meetings with the ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine and ministers of several German federal states took place. Seeder also participated at the summit of agriculture ministers where solutions were seeked for the problem of global food security.

The fair Internationale Grüne Woche has been held since 1926. This year, exhibitors are using the area in 26 exhibition halls (115 000 m2 in total) and during ten days, the fair will be visited by up to half a million people. The Estonian stand at the exhibition is organised by the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
E-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The ministers of agriculture of the world were seeking possibilities to increase food security

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The ministers of agriculture of 48 countries who met in the framework of the largest agriculture and food fair Grüne Woche found that in the framework of world food security it is most important to regulate international trade and increase food production in less developed areas.

According to the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, European people might not sense the problem of food security very strongly, because the price of food has increased, but we cannot yet talk about food scarcity in Europe and also Estonia.

”With time, this might become a problem also for us, because with a rapid price increase, food will become too expensive also for many Europeans,” mentioned Seeder. “It is expected for demand for food to increase in tens of percentages within the upcoming decades, but in today’s situation, this most certainly will not be met with growth of production in such a large extent.”

The ministers of agriculture expressed in Berlin that, on the one hand, international trade needs to be better regulated to avoid a large-scaled speculation with food prices. On the other hand, focus has to be on increasing food production, because there is a lot of land, which is suitable for agriculture but is not used, especially in developing countries.

”Also the youngest country in the world, South-Sudan was represented at the meeting of agriculture ministers. Only 4 percent of agricultural land is in usage in South-Sudan,” said Seeder. “Such examples can be found all over the world and developed countries, including Estonia have to support the usage of such opportunities.”

The ministers of agriculture of the world met yesterday for the third time in the framework of the biggest food and agriculture fair in Berlin. Representatives of 53 countries took part of the meeting.

Grüne Woche lasts in Berlin until January 30. The central theme of this year’s Estonian stand is the sea and fish products. Estonian stand reflects well the main theme of this year’s Capital of Culture Tallinn – Stories of the Seashore.

The fair has been held since 1926. This year, exhibitors are using the area in 26 exhibition halls (115 000 m2 in total) and during ten days, the fair will be visited by up to half a million people. The Estonian stand at the exhibition is organized by the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
E-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

One of the world’s largest agriculture and food fair „Internationale Grüne Woche” begins in Berlin

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

At one of the world’s biggest agriculture and food fair „International Grüne Woche” commencing tonight in Berlin, Estonia will sign cooperation agreements with several German federal states, which main focus is on vocational education and research and development.

According to the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder, innovative agriculture and good agricultural education are one of the most important topics in ensuring food security during the upcoming decades. „Demand for food will increase drastically within the upcoming decades and it is not possible to satisfy this need without science,” explained Seeder.

Cooperation agreements will be signed with Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein federal states.

On Friday evening, Seeder will meet the Minister of Agriculture of Russia Jelena Skrõnnik to discuss the topics regarding the future cooperation agreement. Meetings will also be held with the ministers of agriculture of Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia.

On Saturday, the Estonian delegation will participate at the second Berlin Agriculture Ministers´ Summit, where the topic is „Trade and Global Food Security.”

International Grüne Woche will last until January 30. The central theme of this year’s Estonian stand is the sea and fish products. Estonian stand reflects well the main theme of this year’s Capital of Culture Tallinn – Stories of the Seashore.

Visitors can taste traditionally popular Tallinn spicy sprats. In addition, a full range of fish is being offered: Baltic herring in marinade with vegetables, Baltic herring rolls in garlic marinade, spicy sprat fillet, marinated Narva fried lamprey-eels, salted trout, marinated cod, smoked sprats, herring in mustard sauce etc. Estonia wishes to stress on their traditional fish species and preparation methods, because it is important to be different from the others at this big food festival and offer new flavours to the German and international audience.

The fair has been held since 1926. This year, exhibitors are using the area in 26 exhibition halls (115 000 m²in total) and during ten days, the fair will be visited by up to half a million people. The Estonian stand at the exhibition is organised by the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
+372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
E-mail hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The first agricultural cooperation project between Estonia and Turkey was commenced in Ankara

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The transnational cooperation project is aimed at the implementation of agri-environment measures in order to facilitate the development of sustainable agricultural activities. In addition to Estonia, also Holland and Spain offer Turkey their experience and best practices in the named field.

According to the head of the Estonian delegation now in Turkey, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia Ants Noot, it is important to help the candidate countries of the European Union any way possible in their preparation for accession.

”In the world today, economic success often depends on the capability of the region to develop networks with other regions. Cooperation and exchange of information between regions can be a basis for the stimulation of dynamic and future forward economic relations. European Union plays an important role in the creation and support of such partnerships,” said Ants Noot at the inaugural meeting of the project.

Agricultural cooperation has been carried out for some time already between Estonia and Turkey and in 2009, an economic and research cooperation agreement was signed between the ministries of agriculture of both countries. The countries have so far engaged in cooperation in the field of animal breeding. In 2010, Estonia started selling pure-bred beef animals to Turkey.

Ministers of Agriculture are introducing their reform positions in Brussels

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia stresses at today’s EU Ministers of Agriculture meeting the need to harmonize Union support rates and change the criteria of less favoured areas.

The European Commission proposal for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is discussed for the first time at today’s meeting. All ministers have a possibility to give their first comments on the reform proposals.

The Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder says that the Commission’s proposal reflects to a certain extent the Estonian vision on how to continue with the CAP. "Support rates need to be harmonised in the EU and the Commission has realised that," said Seeder. "In case the current basis for calculating support is continued to be used, we cannot talk about common competition conditions."

According to Seeder, changing the criteria of the so-called less favoured areas is also important in the European Union, so that allocated support would really serve their goal.

Yesterday, Seeder also had a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Ciolos, who has so far also supported the idea of support harmonisation. This would mean increased support rates for the Estonian farmers after 2013.

Additional information:

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Tel: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Hungary supports Estonian positions in the reform of the agricultural policy

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture of Hungary Sándor Fazekas, who visited Estonia on 19th October 2010, supported the Estonian aim to make European Union direct support more equal for the farmers in the future.

"Calculating direct support according to historical reference is no longer appropriate and I am glad that Hungary shares this opinion," said the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder. "Only this way, the agricultural policy will become more harmonized and not emphasizing on differences."

Hungary also supported the Estonian proposal to develop a new definition of less favored areas, which would not be based on former socio-economic deliberations, but would really take natural indicators into consideration.

Estonia will attend the discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) starting this autumn with clear positions, which corner stones are: support based on common grounds, market organization system precluding big price fluctuations and broader sustainable support of rural life. The European Commission is expected to give a preliminary vision on the future of the CAP after the year 2013 by November this year.

"Agriculture and natural environment have to be valued equally all over Europe and therefore, development and usage of new technologies has to be promoted," mentioned Seeder. "Demand for food products increases all over the world and without science it cannot be satisfied."

Minister Fazekas introduced also the priorities of Hungary for the presidency of the EU. Hungary holds the presidency on the first half of 2011 and in the field of agriculture and rural life, main attention wants to be drawn on CAP discussion, animal welfare strategy, food quality policy and ensuring the sustainability of the dairy sector.

Additional information:

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Tel: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Estonia is ready to share experiences with Serbia in the field of agriculture

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

On 4^th October 2010, the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia, Saša Dragin signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which foresees mutual exchange of experience and further development of trade and business relations.

“Estonia supports Serbia’s efforts towards becoming a member of the European Union,” said the Estonian minister. “Estonia is also ready to share its pre-accession experience with Serbia, which is a field, where we already cooperate with several countries.”

The Serbian minister invited Estonian entrepreneurs to invest in Serbia. When talking about trade, Dragin mentioned that Serbia is interested in increasing their import of fisheries products.

The Serbian minister is also visiting the dairy association E-Piim in Põltsamaa, Pakari dairy farm with milking robots in Jüri, the Rural Economy Research Centre in Jäneda and the Agricultural Registers and Information Board, during his three-day stay in Estonia.

Additional information:

Heiki Raudla
Public Relations Department
Phone: 6256 577
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

Minister of Agriculture Helir - Valdor Seeder: Europe needs the Common Agricultural Policy, but the current system of direct payments hinders agricultural development

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

"The CAP must remain a commonly financed policy," stressed the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder at today’s meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of Finland Sirka-Liisa Anttila. "Financing the CAP from the EU budget is justified, especially due to the goal of ensuring equal competition conditions in the EU domestic market."

However, the Estonian minister still added that the current system of direct payments hinders the CAP ´s further developments, distorts the situation and slows down restructuring of the agricultural sector, because more than half of direct payment funds are divided between 5,6% of EU agricultural producers and the level of support still takes into account historical reference.

Seeder also noted that agriculture alone cannot ensure the preservation of sustainable rural life; therefore, we need to promote the diversification of entrepreneurship in rural areas. In the development of agriculture, more research and development activities have to be implemented.

Sirka-Liisa Anttila agreed with the Estonian position and added that support to farmers should be funded from the common budget of the European Union and not separate budgets of Member States.

According to the Estonian Minister of Agriculture, agricultural policy should include also trade and brought the joint activities of Finnish farmers in the dairy sector as an example for our farmers in achieving negotiation conditions and ensuring a fair price for their products.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Public Relations Department
+372 6256577; +372 53060005

Estonia has agricultural experience to share with Russia

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

At an international conference held in Moscow at the beginning of this week it was stated that Russian agriculture has to face a lot of challenges and problems to the solution of which Estonia could contribute, sharing its experience.

„Due to growing demand for food, global agriculture has to face new challenges,“ told Andres Oopkaup, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, who participated in the Moscow conference. „In addition to that, several internal problems we have also faced, need solving in Russia.“
Today, the problem of agricultural land ownership and continual credit shortage raise confusion and difficulties in Russian agriculture. The system of spring sowing loan introduced in Estonia could certainly help to solve the credit problem. The solution of several problems related to grain transport is also a big challenge for Russia as due to long distances grain transport has become very expensive for farmers.
„Estonia is certainly willing to share its experience with Russia as we have tried to find solutions to similar problems and been successful in several cases,“ told Oopkaup.
Today, Estonia does not have any agricultural cooperation agreement with Russia. In January, at the last meeting of Estonian and Russian Ministers of Agriculture in Berlin it was decided to conclude such an agreement in the future.

The Minister of Agriculture met with farmers´ representatives in Jäneda

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder assured today the farmers´ representatives at a meeting, which took place in course of Jäneda Farmers Days that active preparatory work has been started on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. In order to have beneficial decisions for Estonia, the representatives of the republic must work towards achieving that target already today.

“Estonia’s definite position is that the CAP and especially direct payment system has to become more fair to new Member States (MS), including Estonia, “stressed the minister. Estonia’s position has also found support by the key player of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, Germany.

„The target is to harmonize per-hectare payments between MS, “explained Seeder during the meeting in Jäneda, which theme this time was „The Common Agricultural Policy 2013+. “

Estonia believes that CAP must remain a common policy of Europe also in the future.

The Estonian Farmers Days taking place in Jäneda today and tomorrow are being held already for the 19th time. Traditionally, the Estonian Farmer’s Association honors best farms in three categories. The general winners of this year’s competition were Taavi Serva and Gaile Tammemägi from Väikemetsa farm in Võrumaa, Sõmerpalu parish.

Additional information:

Heiki Raudla

Public Relations Department

+372 530 60005

Estonian and Georgian Ministers of Agriculture signed the Memorandum of Cooperation

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder and Georgian Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli signed the Memorandum of Cooperation, which concentrates on the development assistance provided by Estonia and on bilateral economic and trade relations in the field of agriculture and food production.

By Minister Kvezereli’s words, Georgia is interested in cooperation with different international organisations and expects the contribution of Estonian experts. At the same time, Georgia is open for the investments of Estonian companies, for which several advantages are offered, incl. the sale of agricultural land under favourable conditions.

Regarding the exchange of goods, Georgia primarily offers to Estonia its wines, expecting dairy and fishery products in return. Today, fishery products make up the majority of Estonian food export to Georgia. As for trade in dairy products, direct contacts between companies should follow and Georgian Minister promised his support for the establishment of relations.

Minister Helir-Valdor Seeder said that cooperation between the two Ministries has been rather active and the Memorandum of Cooperation signed yesterday promotes its continuation. „For instance, at the end of last year, Georgian representatives participated in the Tallinn international seminar on development assistance provided in the field of agriculture and food.“ told Seeder. „Considering the similar history of our countries, we shall be able to support Georgia in several domains.“

Additional information:
Peeter Seestrand
Deputy Secretary General for Foreign Affairs and Development
phone: + 372 6256 105
e-mail: peeter.seestrand@agri.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Deputy Head of Public Relations Department
phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
e-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

European Union should better direct food price formation

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

European Union must find resources to avoid unproportionally big markups in food price formation. In the opinion of Estonia, besides the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, other Commissioners should also be involved in the process.

At their meeting today, the EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries discussed the problems related to the food supply chain and price formation. Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder says that the necessity to somehow regulate the markups applied to foodstuffs has been discussed for a long time. „As long as this problem is tackled by the Ministers of Agriculture and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development alone, nothing will change in the sector as the real levers are held by the other Commissioners,“ told Seeder.

Therefore, a respective proposal was made by Seeder at the Council meeting today. „Certainly the Commissioner for Competition should also be involved and the essence of the problem should thoroughly be explained to him,“ noted Seeder. „Why, in several sectors, the necessity for the existence of market rules has been understood.“

Through its High Level Expert Group on Milk, the Commission has been working at the problem in recent months. On the basis of different analyses it can be stated that in the food chain, lowest profit is earned by farmers. This is why the position of producers in the food supply chain certainly has to be dealt with.

Additional information:
Peeter Seestrand
Deputy Secretary General for Foreign Affairs and Development
phone: + 372 6256 105
e-mail: peeter.seestrand@agri.ee

Olavi Petron
Head of Section at the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU
phone: +322 227 43 01
e-mail: olavi.petron@mfa.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Deputy Head of Public Relations Department
phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
e-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Historical meeting in Berlin

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

For the first time after the restoration of independence in Estonia, the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia met the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Zubkov and the Minister of Agriculture of Russia Jelena Skrõnnik, who invited him to Moscow to discuss the development of bilateral agricultural relations and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation.

„Regarding foodstuffs, Russia has always been an important trading partner for Estonia, but at state level our cooperation has been modest so far,“ told the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder. „The high-level meeting held yesterday allows us to believe that our cooperation will start to improve.“

The future cooperation between the two countries will primarily concern the export and import of food products and the problems of fisheries. In the future, a High-Level Working Group will be established on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to be signed in Moscow. The Group will meet at least once a year, also enabling consultations on current trade problems.

After the restoration of independence in Estonia, the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia has never met the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture of Russia. At the meeting, the general situation of agriculture in the context of the global economic downturn and the importance of Grüne Woche, the biggest food fair of the world taking place for the 75th time this year, were also discussed.

Additional information:
Peeter Seestrand
Deputy Secretary General for Foreign Affairs and Development
phone: + 372 6256 105
e-mail: peeter.seestrand@agri.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Deputy Head of Public Relations Department
phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
e-mail: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The Agricultural Board got its start

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

On 1 January, the Agricultural Board got its start. As a result of its work, provision of services to citizens and undertakings will become simpler, administration will be more efficient and the availability and quality of services will improve.

The Agricultural Board was established by the incorporation of the Plant Production Inspectorate, regional land improvement bureaus and the Land Improvement Bureau of Supervision and Expertise. The necessity to establish a corporate board was caused by the fact that only government agencies are entitled to exercise state supervision. So far, in addition to the Inspectorate, state supervision was also exercised by land improvement bureaus and by the Land Improvement Bureau of Supervision and Expertise, which caused variance.

Concentrating the county agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture into one county level centre and creating one government agency in place of the former several different agencies the all-in-one principle was considered.

Regarding the comment made by Mr Illar Lemetti, Director-General of the Agricultural Board, directing and administrative functions will be concentrated in the new agency. This means single administration of support services, state assets and funds in the possession of the Board as well as single organisation of public procurement, budgetary and financial control, accounts and personnel administration, which will ensure cost saving in long-term perspective.

The Agricultural Board headquarters are located in Saku and local centres in each county.

Co-operation agreement signed between Estonia and Turkey

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

During the official visit to Estonia, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the area of agriculture today between the Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder and his Turkish colleague Mehmet Mehdi Eker.

In the framework of the memorandum, both parties wish to develop close co-operation and exchange experts in fields of plant production and animal husbandry, incl. livestock breeding. Another important topic of the agreement is co-operation in the areas of agricultural science and research.

The agreement gives Estonia opportunity to share its experience in accession negotiations with EU, consulting Turkey in their preparation for accession. The document involves encouraging of trade in food and processing industry, exchange of information about rural development and design of agricultural measures and issues related to shaping the paying agency. It also stresses mutual investment opportunities in agriculture and processing industry.

“Despite the differences in size, population and climatic conditions, there is a huge unused potential between the two countries in the area of agriculture,” said Mr Seeder. “The memorandum establishes opportunities to promote agricultural enterprises between the private sectors of the countries.”

The framework of the memorandum was signed for five years, but as Mr Seeder pointed out, it does not mean, that this five years period limits the co-operation. “It will be specified and, if necessary, transformed according to both parties needs for certain,” the Estonian minister believed.

Estonia is planning to put the agreement into practice already this year by organising an international seminar in autumn. The seminar will focus on access to European Common Market. Additionally, Estonia is currently bidding for a twinning project in Turkey “Environment and Countryside and IPARD” that the Turkish minister greeted.

Mr Eker also mentioned that Turkey is one of the leading agricultural producers of the world.

During the visit to Estonia the Turkish Minister of Agriculture also visited the Estonian Animal Breeders Association and a modern dairy farm.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Ministry of Agriculture
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6 25 65 77;
GSM: +372 53 060 005

Estonia and Turkey develop agricultural cooperation

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

On Monday, July 6, the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder and the Minister of Turkey, H.E. Mehmet Mehdi Eker are meeting with the purpose to promote communication between the countries and sign a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture.

In the framework of the memorandum, cooperation is wished to be developed and experts exchanged in the fields of plant production, animal farming and also research. There is a plan to promote joint agricultural enterprises between the private sectors of the countries.

The Turkish Minister of Agriculture is on a visit to Estonia from 4th to 7th July. In course of the visit, the delegation will visit the Estonian Animal Breeders Association, Pakar Ltd, 25. Song Celebration and the Estonian Open Air Museum. In addition to the Estonian minister and officials, the Turkish minister will also meet with the Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, Kalev Kotkas.

The Estonian and Turkish ministers will give a press conference on Monday, July 6, at 11 am.

Additional information
Karina Loi
Press Officer of
the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia
Phone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
Email: karina.loi@agri.ee

Baltic ministers of agriculture try to increase the export of food products

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Today and tomorrow, the ministers of agriculture of the Baltic States are trying in Saaremaa to find ways to commonly increase the export of food products to third countries. Also, the countries´ positions on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy after 2013 are introduced and discussed.

According to the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder, export of Estonian food products to mostly Eastern countries has rapidly increased over the last years and that is why great attention has to be paid to it. "The weight of foodstuffs forms one tenth from the Estonian total export and today we have good opportunities to increase this ratio," said Seeder. "Taken the fact into consideration that, for example, milk production exceeds the demands of the domestic market, this direction needs to be developed." Within the last five years, the export of Estonian agricultural products to the European Union has grown 1.9 times, at the same time; export to Russia has grown 5.4 times.

The second important topic discussed at the meeting at Ekesparre hotel is the reform of the European Fisheries Policy after 2013. According to Seeder, all the three countries have a clear vision on the reform and many of the opinions are overlapping. For example, the countries are against the new distribution system of fishing quotas, which would create huge fishing companies in Europe and would definitely be harmful to Estonian coastal fishermen. Estonia supports fishing quotas, which are clearly targeted to increase the resources of the Baltic Sea.

In addition to the trilateral meeting, the ministers will also visit Koguva village and go sailing on a yacht.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

European fishermen tighten cooperation in Pärnu

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The representatives of fisheries areas of 20 European Union Member States gather to hotel Strand in Pärnu from Thursday to Saturday to find opportunities to tighten cooperation, in order to improve the living standard of fishing communities.

About 120 people from 20 different countries are participating at the international conference organised by the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia and the Directorate - General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE). The event focuses on the implementation of Axis IV of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), which deals with the sustainable development of fisheries areas, making it possible for coastal fishermen to diversify their activities and, therefore preserve the socio-economic structure of their area.

The conference mostly emphasizes activities in working groups, which enable the representatives of different countries to get a better and clearer overview of the other countries´ doings and share the best practices starting from the formation of action groups and finishing with the implementation of local strategies, which will certainly benefit the work of the action groups in the future.

The participants are mostly the representatives of fisheries areas, i.e. people who are engaged in the development of coastal and inland areas and fisheries on daily bases. Ernesto Penas Lado, the Director of the Baltic Sea and North Sea region in DG MARE will be taking part from the conference and also the Support Unit of FAR-NET (The European Fisheries Areas Network), which connects the fisheries networks or individual groups of the Member States, is represented.

Background information:

The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) is intended to implement the European Common Fisheries Policy and finance the modernization and development of fisheries and aquaculture, support the development of fishing fleet and environmentally friendly management. During the 7-year budget period, the fisheries sector is annually supported by 59.5 billion kroons (3.8 billion Euros). The fund is open to fishermen fishing both at sea, as well as inland waters, aquaculture enterprises, fisheries representative organisations, industries and fisheries areas.
More information:

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/structural_measures/eff_introduction_en.htm

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 6256 255, +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

The Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discussed cooperation possibilities with Estonian colleagues

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The executive director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, is visiting Estonia today, on 8th May, to meet with Estonian colleagues, exchange information and discuss possibilities for further cooperation.

During the meetings at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Veterinary and Food Board, both parties admitted that Estonian experts and research institutions could be more actively involved in EFSA’s activities. The executive director of EFSA proposed to send Estonian experts to the European Food Safety Authority for a few years, with the perspective of gaining experiences.
EFSA executive director met with the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Production Inspectorate, Health Protection Inspectorate and scientists of the field of food safety.

Visiting Estonia was one part of the visit of EFSA executive director to the Baltic States.

EFSA is the risk assessment authority of the EU, whose task is to form scientifically proven opinions in the field of food safety.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer of the
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
Email: karina.loi@agri.ee

Estonia supports the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia together with many European Union Member States supports the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), so that it would become simpler and cheaper for the applicants and the administrators and clearer for the whole society.

Estonia joined also the corresponding declaration, which asks for a clearer action plan and schedule for the European Commission to develop concrete proposals. Many of the Member States joined the declaration.

The topics of the CAP simplification and the definition of less favoured areas were thoroughly discussed this morning at the meeting between the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia Helir-Valdor Seeder and the Minister of Agriculture of Holland Gerda Verburg.
According to Seeder, the definition criteria of less favoured areas has to be renewed as soon as possible and the support given to those areas has to be made more comparable between different European countries, which would ensure a more equal treatment for everyone. The need to highlight the overall essence of agricultural support was also emphasized at the meeting, because support is what offers the society public services in food security, as well as preserving valuable landscapes and the environment. Among other topics, the issue of tighter cooperation between Estonia and Holland in the framework of aid programmes given to Turkey and other countries in Eastern Europe and Middle Asia was under discussion.

In the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, the European Commission gave an overview of the planned reform package of the Common Fisheries Policy. The goal of the reform is to review critically and, if necessary, change or amend the whole fisheries policy. The overview highlighted the progress made in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, but also the critical developments. The main problems are still overfishing, excessive fishing capacities but also the economic and social problems in the fisheries sector. The goal is to implement a more effective and sustainable fisheries policy in 2012.

The topic of aquaculture, including the future of fish farming in Europe was discussed as the second point related to fisheries. When in other parts of the world, this sector has developed rapidly during the last years, then in Europe, it has suffered a setback. The issue of administrative obstacles related to the usage of lands suitable for aquaculture was brought out as the main challenges. The discussion of all the abovementioned topics will continue during the next ministerial councils.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Telephone: + 372 6256 255, + 372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Hiiumaa cow keepers receive a million from the state

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Under special conditions, the cow keepers of Hiiumaa receive a million kroons from the state, in order to buy a milk tanker and therefore make more money for raw milk. The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder signed the corresponding contract with the Rural Development Foundation today.

The farmers from Hiiumaa turned to the state with their request for help already in the beginning of the year, because due to special location, the industries lowered the buying- in price of their milk under 2 kroons, which is not enough for profitability. According to Seeder, it is clear that dairy farming cannot survive with these prices and help had to be given. The Ministry of Agriculture decided on supporting Hiiumaa farmers already in February, but time was needed to decide how to use the support money. The dairy producers themselves would have liked to receive money just as compensation but the goal of the state was to support investments and cooperative activities, which would bring about benefits also in the future.

Additional information:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6255, +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Ministers of Agriculture expect a bigger support for the dairy sector from Europe

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Estonia together with other Member States expects the European Commission to take additional steps for the support of the dairy sector, because precisely that sector is endangered the most by the worsened economic situation.

At the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which took place today, 23 March, in Brussels, the situation of dairy sector was the most discussed topic. According to the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, the Commission has already started with some measures to support the milk sector. "The Commission is expected to act somewhat more operative and, if necessary, enforce supplementary market organization measures," said Seeder. "It is to be expected that the Commission might establish some additional measures within the nearest months, but today we are not sure, what those might be."

The purchasing prices of raw milk have dropped fast all over Europe and also the industry is suffering from hardships. The reason for this is the fast price decline of export goods and the collapse of the market, which has caused the decrease of raw milk by the industry.

Even though part of the Member States would rather see the whole agricultural organization to be reviewed to solve the situation, the proposal did not find wider support. In addition to the situation of the dairy sectors, the ministers are discussing the general role of agriculture in the changed economic environment. According to Seeder, it is clear by today that the role of Europe has to be broader than just organizing and regulating agriculture. "The keywords have to be also trade and the whole production chain," said the minister. "These have to be worked with more in a regulative way, because this will give more results."

Additional information

Andres Oopkaup
Deputy Secretary General for Agriculture and Trade Policies
Phone: +372 625 6105
Email: andres.oopkaup@agri.ee

Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6255
Gsm: +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Study visit of Romanian rural development experts

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A delegation of rural development experts were on a study visit to Estonia from March 2 - 7. The aim of the study visit was to learn about the implementation of EU legislation of an "older" Member State, get familiar with rural development, the Leader programme and the system of paying support in Estonia. According to the Romanian delegation, they had a lot to learn from Estonia, since we have reached somewhat further with our development in the field of rural development and Leader. Currently, the local action groups (LAGs) in Estonia are starting to implement their strategies, in Romania, however, the process of choosing national LAGs is still underway.

During the study visit the delegation visited three LAGs: Järva Development Partners, Jõgevamaa Cooperation Chamber and Tartu Development Association, meetings were also held at the Rural Economy Research Centre, Agricultural Registers and Information Board and the Ministry of Agriculture. The delegation also visited several farms and enterprises, such as Siimusti orphanage, Härjanurme fish farm, Kaaruka community house, which are all examples of rural entrepreneurism and part of the Leader programme. The Romanians also commented that it was a pleasant surprise to see how important Leader movement is for Estonia and that they are certainly trying to move towards the same direction in Romania.

Additional information

Kadi Lepik
Foreign Affairs Bureau
kadi.lepik@agri.ee
+372 6256 184

On the Baltic Sea trawling and coastal fishing

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000

On 18 February 2008, the Deputy Secretary General for Rural Development and Fisheries Policy Toomas Kevvai gave a speech for the European Parliament about the Baltic Sea trawling and coastal fishing. In his speech, he stressed the need for efficient surveillance on fishing and brought out the different problems facing trawling and coastal fishing in the Baltic Sea region.

In addition to efficient control on fishing, it is also important to renew the fishing fleet and develop a sustainable fisheries sector, which would be attractive to young newcomers and help to preserve the long tradition of fishing of the Baltic Sea people.

The presented speech can be found from below.

UN international natural fibers year begins on the background of Estonian textiles

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

On January 22, UN International Year of Natural Fibers was opened in Rome, at the headquarters of UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO. This event is celebrated through an exhibition of Estonian textiles made of natural fibers. The exhibition shows woolen, cotton, paper and peat fiber works by Maasike Maasik, Liisa Kallam, Aune Taamal, Tiina Puhkan and Elna Kaasik.

The UN natural fibers year tries to draw attention to renewable materials from agriculture. Over 30 million tons of natural fibers are produced in the world every year, which is used for clothes, furniture, building, car industry and elsewhere. More information can be read from the official site of the natural fibers year: http://www.naturalfibres2009.org/index.html

The exhibition of Estonian textile artists is open until January 2010.

Press release by:
Karina Loi
Press representative of the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
Email: karina.loi@agri.ee

Farmers are reliable clients for banks

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

At the meeting with Estonian Banking Association Chairman Aivar Rehe, it was concluded that farmers are one of the most reliable client groups for banks, who have not yet found themselves in great difficulties.

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, Minister of Finance Ivari Padar and Kalev Kotkas, the Chairman of Rural Affairs Committee of the Parliament were discussing with Rehe, how the banks could help farmers during the hard times of today. It was found that even today, the farmers can go to the banks in case of need for financing and most of them do not have to be afraid of automatic rejection.

According to Seeder, neither the producers, nor industries can forget that in our current situation, keeping the payment disciplines is very important in communicating both with banks, lease companies, as well as with each other, in order to prevent chain arrears. "The transfer of one producer´s difficulties to another can be fatal for the whole sector," said the Minister.

According to Kotkas, the incentive for the meeting was a fish to ensure the development of the agricultural sector also during difficult times. The representatives of the state and banking agreed to cooperate and decided to develop monetary solutions by the beginning of spring field works.

Information forwarded by:
Hindrek Riikoja
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6255
GSM: +372 53 030 865
Email: hindrek.riikoja@agri.ee

Food shortage calls for greater cooperation between countries

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

During the first international summit of agriculture ministers, which took place last week in Berlin, Germany, in the framework of the international agriculture, horticulture and food exhibition Grüne Woche, the representatives of countries all over the world adopted a declaration, which foresees the need to increase agricultural production and the productivity of agriculture in the world, increase investments for the development of agriculture and rural areas and enhance research and development in the field of agriculture.

“Based on the presentations, it could be concluded that by today, food production and food security has become an important issue for countries′ security and survival,” said the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia Ants Noot, who also participated at the meeting. “Developing a common agricultural policy of Europe was mentioned – not the European Union, but the whole continent.”

The Deputy Secretary General for Foreign Affairs and Development of the Ministry of Agriculture Peeter Seestrand said that the ministers were in the spirit of cooperation and the challenges arising from world population increase and food production were perceived commonly. “Overall, the demand for food is increasing, because more fertile land is nowhere to be found and everybody has to use their resources better. Solutions are seen in a better organization of the agricultural policy, stability, giving decision-making rights to the producers, in order to better respond to market signals and also in developing research and technology,” explained Seestrand.

The representatives from about 30 countries in Eurasia and America participated at the Berlin Summit of Agriculture Ministers. According to Seestrand, everybody acknowledged that the agricultural market is global and further globalizing. The representatives of those countries, which have more field resources (Russia and Ukraine) mostly brought out trade measures but those, who are bigger consumers (China and Indonesia) talked more about technology and fair trade.

“The idea was to create tighter contacts between Asian and Eastern-European countries and the rest of Europe and, in conclusion, it was achieved.”

The delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia headed by the Secretary General Ants Noot visited the exhibition from January 15 – 18.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6 256 577
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

The International Green Week begins in Berlin

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The agriculture, horticulture and food exhibition International Green Week (Internationale Grüne Woche) is opened today in Germany, Berlin. The exhibition is opened until January 25 and also Estonia is represented with its national stand.

A conference of agriculture ministers "Global food security - a challenge for politics and industry" takes place on January 17, followed by the first ever Berlin Summit of Agriculture Ministers.

The delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture of Estonia, headed by Secretary General Ants Noot is visiting the exhibition from January 15 - 18. In the framework of the exhibition, the Secretary General has meetings with the ministers of Sweden, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern federal states and the deputy minister of Kazakhstan. On Friday, January 16, the Secretary General is making a presentation at the European Academy seminar on the topic "Influences of the accession to the EU to Estonian agriculture," he will also participate at the conference and Berlin summit of agriculture ministers.

Also this year, Estonia is represented at the exhibition with a stand introducing Estonia and Estonian food, which is organized by the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce. The purpose of the stand is to invite exhibition visitors to taste good Estonian food and at the same time, get to know Estonian tourism, especially the possibilities for rural and nature tourism. Rural tourism experts are present, who will introduce Estonia as a fascinating travel destination and give advice how to spend one’s holiday here, what kind of naturally beautiful places to visit and where to taste good Estonian food. A cafe area is also opened at the Estonian stand, where exhibition visitors can try interesting Estonian snacks.
Grüne Woche is an exhibition with long traditions, which is held already for the 74th time this year. The total area of the exhibition is 115 000 m² and during ten days, the number of visitors is about 425 000. About 1600 exponents from 52 countries are represented; also top politicians from many countries and about 300 forums will take place during the ten days.

Estonia has had a stand at Grüne Woche since 1993.

Additional information about the exhibition

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Public Relations Department
Phone: + 372 6 256 577
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

Safety and quality of agricultural products was the topic for the last Council of Ministers in 2008

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers, which took place on 18 - 19 December in Brussels, was the last meeting of the Council of Ministers during the French presidency.

The Council discussed about the green paper of agricultural products quality, Council conclusions on the memorandum "Food, feed, animal and plant imoprts: safety and compliance with Community rules" were approved. Estonia pursues the start of a broad discussion on the topic of quality policy, which would engage agricultural producers, official institutions and the public.

For the first time, the Commission introduced the greep paper of quality policy during the Council meeting on 27 - 28 October. The purpose of the green paper is to start a broader discussion on the future quality policy of the Community regarding more specific production requirements and marketing standards, the system of food quality labels and voluntary quality schemes.
On the French proposal and with the support of several Member States, a memorandum "Food, feed, animal and plant imoprts: safety and compliance with Community rules" was compiled, in order to draw the Council´s and the Commission´s attention to the need to ensure the safety of imported agricultural products and conformity with the requirements of the European Union. On 23 - 24 June this year, Draft Council Conclusions were decided to prepare on the initiative of France. Estonia supports the goals and measures proposed by the Draft Conclusions.

The next Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers is held on January 19. Czech Republic will hold the presidency next.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Agriculture
Telephone: +372 625 6577
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder presented the decorations of the ministry and recognized the best cooperation partner

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder presented yesterday, on 27 November, at the public ceremony dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Ministry of Agriculture the ministry´s decorations and recognized the best cooperation partner.

Altogether 14 people received the blue, silver and golden decorations. The bearers of the decorations were chosen by the ministry´s decorations committee, which was headed by Secretary General Ants Noot.

According to the statute, the blue decoration of the Ministry of Agriculture is given to a civil servant of the ministry or the institution under its governance for outstanding fulfillment of duties. The silver decoration is given to a person outside the ministry for productive cooperation with the ministry or successful activities in the field of the ministry´s area of government. The golden decoration is given for achievements of special merit in developing the field of the ministry´s area of government.

Bearer of the golden decoration:
Paul Kuldkepp, Professor Emeritus and scientist of the Estonian University of Life Sciences

Bearers of the silver decoration:
Viive Rosenberg, Senior scientist at the Estonian Research Centre of Agriculture
Tiina Talussaar, Agronomist
Krista Habakukk, Long-term leader of Estonian Village Movement KODUKANT Pärnumaa
Raivo Vokk, Professor of Tallinn Technical University, Director of the Institute of Food Processing since 1985
Indrek Klammer, Manager of OÜ Voore Farm
Kalju Hallik, Refounder of the Estonian Sheep Breeders´ Association in 1990
Ene Milvaste, NPO Abiks Põllumehele, agricultural adviser

Bearers of the blue decoration:
Helgi Moor, Agronomist at the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute during 1961-2007
Helve Henning, Agronomist at the Plant Production Inspectorate
Evi Hõbemäe, A long- term and meritorious specialist of the Ministry of Agriculture
Ülle Päiv, A long- term and meritorious specialist of the Ministry of Agriculture
Mai Talvik, A long- term and meritorious specialist of the Ministry of Agriculture
Ene Maadvere, A long- term and meritorious specialist of the Ministry of Agriculture

The best cooperation partner was also announced at the ceremony, this year the title went to the Estonian Animal Breeding Association. The Rural Development Foundation gave the awards for the Best Dairy Farmer 2007 and Best Beef Animal Farmer 2007. The awards were given to Indrek Klammer and Aarne Tamm, respectively.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 6256 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
Email: karina.loi@agri.ee

Agreement on the proposed modifications of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy was reached by the morning

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

At the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels, which lasted all through the night and finished at 9 am local time this morning, an agreement was reached after long hours of discussions on the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy. The decision was reached by a qualified majority - Estonia, together with some other new Member States, voted against the proposed modifications.

Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder expressed regret that Estonia was not able to support the proposed modifications. "The direction of the compromise, which was finally accepted, was not to harmonize the support levels of old and new Member States. Since the main position of Estonia was the harmonization of competition conditions, we could not support that kind of decision," explained Seeder.

From the Estonian point of view, the positive aspect of the compromise is the fact that, to a larger extent, we do not have to implement modulation - for us, it is implemented only in case of individual support sums that exceed 300 000 Euros. However, the final decision does not allocate enough resources to meet new challenges. In addition, too many exceptions were made for some Member States, which does not support the idea of policy simplification.

Ministers of Agriculture are now travelling on to France, where a meeting of the ministers is held on the request by the French Minister of Agriculture, Michel Barnier, to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. Next Friday, the next Council meeting is held in Brussels, where the topic is also the further future of the CAP.

Additional information:
Margus Palu
Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6 524, +372 52 007 81
Email: margus.palu@agri.ee

Ernst & Young: the implementation of rural development support so far has been successful

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

According to the follow-up assessment of Estonian Rural Development Plan for the period 2004 - 2006, conducted by the auditing and consultation cmpany Ernst and Young, the goals of the development plan have been achieved. According to the auditors, support has fulfilled the targets set for them: the livelihood of agricultural producers has increased significantly, also, producers are more interested in sustainable environmental usage.

Märt Loite, a senior consultant in Ernst and Young, said: "Although we see that the economic situation of producers, as well as awareness in the environment has improved significantly thanks to the implementation of development plans, in the future, more attention should be targeted to increasing the awareness of producers in specific environmental questions."

According to the Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder, many proposals have been taken account already in the new development plan for the period 2007 - 2013. "During the current period we have given producers a lot more specific trainings, also, in cooperation with ARIB, we are trying to be more flexible in processing and controlling applications," explained Seeder.

The main goals of Estonian Rural Development Plan 2004 - 2006 was to turn agricultural production more environmental friendly and improve the sustainability of small producers and producers in less favoured areas. More information: http://www.agri.ee/mak.
Assesment results can be found on the webpage of the Ministry of Agriculture: http://www.agri.ee/index.php?id=32744.

Additional information:
Märt Loite
Senior consultant
Ernst & Young Baltic AS
Phone: 611 4646
E-mail: Mart.Loite@ee.ey.com

Margus Palu
Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: 6256 524, 52 007 81
E- mail: margus.palu@agri.ee

Seeder met with the Minister of Agriculture of Turkey

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Today, the Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder met with his Turkish colleague Mehmet Mehdi Eker. The topic of the meeting was the Turkish preparation process for the accession to the European Union and Estonian pre-accession experiences.

Helir-Valdor Seeder is on a visit to Turkey on the invitation of the Turkish minister. At a bilateral meeting, the ministers signed a mutual cooperation plan in the fields of food safety, agriculture, rural development and fisheries, and that in the context of Estonian membership.
Also, a wish to strentghen cooperation in the areas of agricultural science and research and develop cooperation in order to establish mutual investment opportunities in agriculture and the processing industry were expressed at the meeting.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Ministry of Agriculture
Public Relations Department
Telephone: +372 6 25 65 77
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

Seeder presented the Estonian proposals for changes in the Common Agricultural Policy

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000

On Tuesday, at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg, the Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder presented the Estonian positions regarding proposals for change in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In the legislative proposals of the European Commission, attention has been drawn on three main issues: simplifying the system of direct support and increasing efficiency, the role of market organisation measures and developing market orientation, meeting new challenges (risk management, climate change, bioenergy, water management and biological diversity). It is not a reform of the agricultural policy, but a "health check" of the existing CAP, which is a preparation for the new financial period, starting after 2013.

At a trilateral meeting with the presidency of the EU Council and the Commissioner for Agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture of Estonia, Helir-Valdor Seeder stressed that according to the Estonian position, the issues of good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) should remain compulsory for Member States, but at the same time, there should be a possibility to choose the appropriate standards according to a country´s peculiarities.

Since meeting new challenges in done in the framework of rural development programmes, Pillar II (rural development measure) of the CAP should be strengthened significantly and, in case the redistribution principal of modulation resources is not reassessed, unspent budget resources of the CAP in new Member States should be directed to rural development programmes, in order to deal with new challenges. The common Estonian position is that the goal of CAP "health check" should be moving towards simplification and less regulation. Also, Estonia believes that the measures of Pillar I (agricultural direct support) cannot be nationally co-financed.

To the Estonian delegation at the Council meeting belonged: Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, Deputy Secretary Generals Toomas Kevvai, Andres Oopkaup and Peeter Seestrand and Head of EU Affairs Bureau Kristina Uibopuu.

Additional information:
Heiki Raudla
Ministry of Agriculture
Public Relations Department
Telephone: +372 6 25 65 77
Email: heiki.raudla@agri.ee

Melioration experts from 23 countries meet in Estonia

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow,on 9 July, at 1 p.m., the 10th International Drainage Workshop will continue in Tallinn, Reval Hotel Olümpia. The conference began in Finland.

In the sessions of the conference, which previously took place in Finland, agricultural drainage and environmental differences in agricultural policy (usage of nitrates, heavy metals etc), drainage planning in heavy soils, agricultural water usage, methods and techologies were discussed. The topics during the sessions held in Estonia are land improvement, river cleaning, extreme weather conditions, drainage, prevention of flooding and land usage.

There are about 150 scientists and specialists on land improvement and water management from 23 countries. In addition to Europe, some more distant countries represented in the conference are: Australia, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Egypt, Iran and others.

Also, the President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Mr. Peter Lee from England will be participating.
The conference is organised in the framework of ICID to which Estonia is a member to since 2000.

Additional information:
Mati Tõnismäe, GSM +372 533 15 820

Janika Salev
Head of Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 6256 561
GSM: +372 50 38 573

Seeder met with the President of Ukraine

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder met, in course of his visit to Ukraine, with the president of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko. During the meeting, both parties assured a need for cooperation between the two countries. President Yushchenko acknowledged and thanked Estonia for support and brought our country as an example to others. The Ukrainian president stressed that a policy in the directon of NATO and the European Union is their priority. Seeder assured that cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine needs to be further developed.

Today, Seeder also met with the Minister of Agricultural Policy of Ukraine Yuriy Melnik and the two minsters signed a memorandum of cooperation. In the framework of the memorandum, the goal is to promote economic and research relations in the fields of agriculture and the food industry.

Today, the Estonian delegation in participating in the opening of the biggest agricultural exhibition in Ukraine "Agro 2008" and also taking part from a seminar, round-table organized by Enterprise Estonia and the Estonian Embassy, where the main topic is Ukrainian business environment. Tomorrow, the delegation will visit several agricultural producers in Kiev region.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture
Telephone: + 372 625 6254
GSM: + 372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

A memorandum of cooperation between the ministries of agriculture is signed in Ukraine

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture, lead by minister Helir-Valdor Seeder, is on a visit to Ukraine from 9 - 11 June, where a memorandum of mutual cooperation in the fields of economy and research is signed between the ministries of agriculture.

In the framework of the memorandum, the goal is to promote economic and research relations in the fields of agriculture and the food industry.

The Estonian delegation is participating in the opening of the biggest agricultural exhibition in Ukraine "Agro 2008" and also taking part from a seminar, round-table organized by Enterprise Estonia and the Estonian Embassy, where the main topic is Ukrainian business environment. Moreover, the delegation will visit several agricultural producers in Kiev region.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture
Telephone: + 372 625 6254
GSM: + 372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

A big food forum coming

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder is participating at a high level global conference, held in the beginning of June, at FAO headquarters in Rome. The conference is organised to find short and also long term solutions to the world´s food problems, which are intensified by climate change and the production of bioenergy. Over 10 heads of state and 50 ministers of agriculture and development cooperation will be participating.

The minister will also present Estonia´s position concerning food security issues. At the moment, preparations for the formulation of positions are being done. The following points are of importance to Estonia: it is important to acknowledge that the world´s population will increase by 800 million people within the next decade; agriculture can solve the problem of food shortages, but intensive and environmentally sustainable production demands for more investments, also, Estonia supports making a concrete action plan and is ready to contribute to crisis aid and also help to advance the agriculture in developing countries with its experiences. Estonia also believes that bioenergy production is not the main culprit in the shortage of food.

Additional information:
Ruve Schank
Minister-Councellor
Estonian Embassy in Rome
tel: +390684407515

Janika Salev
Head of Public Relations Department
Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: +372 6256 561
GSM: +372 50 38 573

The consumer still prefers domestic food

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

At the presentation of a study " Eating habits and buying preferences of residents", conducted by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research on the order of the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture, it became aware that consumers still respect domestic food products, which are preferred by 73% of respondents.

The Minister of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder admitted that food has become a center point of the society. The minister says that the demand for food products is growing all over the world and also, food production as well as food safety are gaining more attention in the European Union policy.

„During the first months of this year, export growth has been lead by the food industry. Growth in export is definitely a positive thing, since a limited internal market does not enable endless growht," says Seeder.

The study showed that preferring domestic food products to exported ones has become more difficult. Establishing the origin of the product is mainly hindered by product information being in small letters, also, information about the origin of raw materials is not found on the packaging. The consumer, however, would like to find information on the packaging about the raw material, country of origin and the producer.

It was also found out that domestic food products have a customary taste, are fresh, trustworthy and healthy. Compared to previous years, domestic food is less characterized by a decreasing content of supplements and good price. Moreover, assessments on wholesomeness and high quality have decreased.

In making the decision to buy a certain food product, consumers value freshness (96%), taste (93%) and quality (92%). Wholesomeness, a good price and ingredients are also very important. A known trademark has become increasingly important. The consumers believe more in the trademark and have given up exploring the ingredients.

With the highest quality, consumers find domestic milk and milk products (75%), bread products (72%) and products of the milling industry (71%).

The frequency of buying food products has not changed during the year. 95% of residents buys food at least twice a week. With a year, the percentage of daily food buyers has decreased a little and the percentage of people shopping for food 2-3 times a week increased a little.

Buying food from big supermarkets is becoming more common. The main reason for this is a continuously spreading chain trading in the different areas of Estonia. In supermarkets, the consumers mostly value food products of good quality, cleanliness and decency of the shop and also pleasant service and good prices.

Three consumers out of four (76%) have changed their buying habits in 2007 due to the rise in the prices of food products. Mainly this consists in looking at the prices more carefully and often and buying cheaper products. Checking the prices and buying cheaper products mostly affects everyday goods, for example, milk and milk products, meat, bread and pastry, fish and fish products.

If the prices of food products continue rise this year and exceed the 5% level, the consumers will change their buying behaviour and habits even more. If the price rise will be 6-11%, the habits of 58% of the consumers will change, for 11-20% and over 20% price rise, change will affect the habits of 84% and 92% of consumers, respectively.

The results of the study can be found on the webpage of the Ministry of Agriculture http://www.agri.ee/?id=28549.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: + 372 625 6254
GSM: + 372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

The estimates of the world food organisation have not come true e.g. hunger by the horns

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Agriculture and Food Organiastion of the United Nations (FAO) is gaining a lot of attention in connection with the recent developments and, foremostly, due to the disturbances caused by the rise in food prices.

So far, FAO, based on the approval of its Member Nations, has considered its most important task to be the fight with hunger and malnutrition. The goals set in the World Food Forum in 1996 were to decrease the number of underfed people (800 million) by a half within twenty years time. However, thanks to the rise in food prices, the number of underfed people today is, compared to last year´s 800 million, over one billion. Of course, the fact that the world´s population increased by about 100 million people last year has to be taken into account. At the same time, about 100 million tons of maize was used for heating instead of making bread.

Lack of energy is a threat for both, the rich and poor countries. For the poor, the risk is energy deficiency, for the rich, an unprecedented price rise. „FAO should have seen it all coming. A large amount of officials should be able to present an adequate estimation. At the moment, the situation is tried to be fixed," says Ruve Šank, the Permament Representative of Estonia to FAO.

Estonia has regained its justified green colour on the World Food Programme hunger map, which shows that the rate of underfed people is 2,5%. The rise in food prices, energy security and the production of bioenergy are all important topics for the Estonians.

In the beginning of June, a high level conference "Climate change - food security - bioenergy production" will take place in the headquarters of FAO in Rome. The focus of the conference is on food security. An invitation for participation has been sent to all the ministers and heads of states of all FAO Member Nations.

10 reasons for the rise in food prices:
1) the increase in population (population increaseb by 80 million people last year)
2) increase in the income of the people – possible to spend more on food (foremostly China, India)
3) change in eating habits – towards food of higher calories (milk and meat)
4) food used for heating (in 2007, 86 million tons of maize used for heating instead of food)
5) bad weather (climate change destroys part of the harvest)
6) higher prices on inputs – mostly energy, but also fertilizers, machinery etc
7) fresh water becoming more deficit
8) large reserves decreasing (mostly crops but also milk powder, meat) – situation now at the level of 1982
9) spekulants see an opportunity
10) panic among the consumers (disturbances)

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Ministry of Agriculture
Press Officer
Telephone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

Seeder recognised the cooperation between Estonia and Latvia concerning the agricultural policy

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder met this morning with the representatives of the Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the Latvian Saeima to discuss several topics of interest for both parties.

Seeder recognised the very good cooperation between Estonia and Latvia concerning the agricultural policy and stressed the tight cooperation between the ministers, foremost on the level of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. "We have good information exchange with Lativa and a few different positions have not hindered our cooperation," says Seeder.

Reforms in agriculture and state aid to farmers were discussed at the meeting. Also, the colleagues from our neighbouring country were interested in the topic of farms, land purchase questions, issues concerning vocational education and the development of rural areas.

Yesterday, on March 25, the representatives of the Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the Latvian Saeima met with the Rural Affairs Committee and the Environment Committee of the Riigikogu.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: + 372 625 6254
GSM: + 372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

European Commission - Transparency: All recipients of EU farm aid to be published by April 2009

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

All recipients of European Union agricultural and rural development payments will be published in detail under new rules adopted today by the European Commission. By 30 April, 2009, the full name, municipality and, where available, postal code of every recipient will be published in a clear, harmonised manner on nationally-managed websites with a search tool which enables the public to see how much money each person or company received.

Amounts will be broken down in direct payments to farmers and other support measures. For rural development policy, which is co-financed between the EU and the national government, the information will cover both EU and national money. This information will be available by 30 April every year for the previous financial year and must remain on the website for two years from the date of its original publication. In addition, the European Commission will manage its own website which will have links to each national site.

"This is taxpayers' money, so it is very important that people know where it is being spent," said Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "Transparency should also improve the management of these funds, by reinforcing public control of how the money is used. Only in this way can we guarantee an informed debate about the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. This level of transparency is something both we and the European Parliament have been pushing for and we're glad we now have agreement on how the system will work."

The new Financial Regulation, adopted in 2006, sets out the principle that Member States have to ensure the publication of a list of all recipients of all forms of EU agricultural and rural development funds for each financial year. The Commission Regulation adopted today, which has received the support of the Member States, sets out the details of how this publication will be done, after the Council had agreed on the main elements last November.

It provides that each Member State shall publish the information on a website which allows people to search for the beneficiaries by name, municipality, amounts received (and the currency concerned) or a combination of these three criteria and to extract the information as a single set of data. It requires Member States to inform the beneficiaries that their data will be made public and that they enjoy the rights accorded to them by EU data protection rules, thus ensuring that the system complies with the requirements of data protection.

This information will be available from 30 April of the year after the money was paid and remain on the website for two years after the initial date of publication. The publication of data on rural development funds will begin slightly earlier than data for direct farm payments. For all rural development funds spent between 1 January and 15 October 2007, the information will be published by 30 September 2008.

Given the different organisational structures across the EU, the Member States themselves will decide who will be in charge of setting up and maintaining their single website. They can also decide to publish more detailed information if they so choose. The Commission will run its own website, providing a link to the individual national sites.

A number of Member States already publish the recipients of EU agricultural funds. The Commission already provides a link to allow members of the public to find these national websites.

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/funding/index_en.htm

Today's decision is the latest stage in the Commission's long-running Transparency Initiative, an idea which aims to increase openness and accessibility of EU institutions, raise awareness of the use of the EU budget and make the Union's institutions more accountable to the public.

For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/kallas/transparency_en.htm

Commission regulation:
Commission regulation on the publication of information on the beneficiaries of funds deriving from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Source: press release of the European Commission 19.03.2008

Presidency: EU Agriculture Ministers adapt Common Agricultural Policy

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

At the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, chaired by Slovenian Minister of Agriculture Iztok Jarc, the Ministers adopted Council conclusions regarding the Commission communication on the 'health check' of the CAP reform. Review of the common agricultural policy is one of the Slovenian Council Presidency priorities in the area of agriculture.

"Although we have stressed throughout that this is not a new reform; it is more than a mere technical adjustment. With these conclusions, the Council is sending a clear signal and is laying down guidelines for the future development of agricultural policy in the period 2009-2013," said EU Council President Iztok Jarc.

The Minister emphasised, "With these adjustments we are making the CAP even more efficient and adapting agriculture to the new global market conditions and new challenges before us. At the same time, the amendments enable us to preserve the European agricultural model and respond to the demands of consumers and society for agriculture to have a broader role."

Concerning direct payments, the Member States may keep or adapt their model of the single payments scheme until 2013, allowing for the sensitivity of particular sectors and special conditions of vulnerable areas in individual Member States to be taken into consideration. The Council agrees with the Commission proposal that new Member States may keep the single area payment scheme until 2013.

Cross compliance remains the main element of the reformed CAP and is of key importance for ensuring public support for the new policy. The Council points out, however, that the administrative burden for farmers and for the public administration should not be increased and should even, where possible, be reduced. The Ministers called upon the Commission to examine the possibility of extending implementation of the statutory management requirements for new Member States implementing the single area payment scheme.

The Ministers also point out that significantly lowering the upper payment threshold may have adverse effects on farming in some Member States. The Council welcomes the Commission proposal on introducing additional measures in the context of Article 69 for specific needs in certain areas and sectors in all Member States.

As far as market measures are concerned, the Ministers agree that the CAP should include mechanisms which work as an effective safety net.

In the context of abolishing milk quotas in 2015, provision is made for a 'soft landing' approach to ensure a smooth transition and predictability for producers, as well as special measures for vulnerable regions where the abolition of milk quotas would put milk production at risk. The Council invites the Commission to examine all possible measures in the context of the 'soft landing' approach.

In respect of adapting agriculture to new challenges, such as climate change, bio-energy, water management and conservation of biodiversity, the Commission should examine all possibilities for the development of risk management measures. New risks require a wider response, one that involves other policies and also, in the context of CAP, existing measures for rural development. The Ministers especially highlighted the importance of innovation in this regard. The Council invited the Commission to examine all the possibilities of financing such adaptations, including obligatory modulation.

The debate will continue at the informal ministerial meeting in Slovenia in May, where the Commission will present its legislative proposals. The Slovenian Presidency will then endeavour to pursue the debate on the legislative proposals intensively in the working parties in June.

Council Conclusions:
Agriculture and Fisheries Council: Conclusions - the Commission communication "preparing for the "health check" of the CAP reform"
Agriculture and Fisheries Council: Conclusions, press release

Source: press release of the Slovenian Presidency 17.03.2008

The Agriculture Ministers of the European Union are discussing the proposals for change of the Common Agricultural Policy

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Today, on March 17, the Minster of Agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder is participating at the session of the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council starting at 11 am in Brussels, where the "health check" of the CAP is under discussion.

The Council wishes to approve today the Council conclusions, based on the CAP "health check" discussions and presented by the presidency. According to minister Seeder, Estonia supports the conclusions of the Council and welcomes the relevant changes introduced by the presidency. "The first priority for Estonia is to harmonize competition conditions between old and new Member States, " stressed Seeder.

The purpose of "health check" is to update the current policy covering three main aspects:
- simplifying the direct aid system of the EU and making it more productive and effective;
- modernizing different market organization measures (intervention, export support and production quotas, incl milk quota system);
- responding to new challenges (e.g. risk and crisis management, climate change, bioenergy and water management) .

The Estonian position on the proposals of change were approved by the Government on February 7. The positions can be found on the webpage of the Ministry of Agriculture http://www.agri.ee/?id=27045.

More information about the Council meeting today can be found on the webpage of the European Commission.

Additional information:
Margus Palu
Ministry of Agriculture
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6524, +372 52 007 81
E-mail: margus.palu@agri.ee

European Commission: Council approves 2 percent increase in milk quotas from April 2008

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

European Union agriculture ministers today approved the European Commission's proposal for a 2 percent increase in milk quotas beginning on 1 April 2008 to meet growing demand both within the European Union and on global markets. The increase, a total of 2.84 million tonnes, would apply on an equal basis to the 27 Member States.

It does not prejudge the ongoing review of the dairy market in the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy, where the Commission has suggested a gradual increase in quotas before they expire on 31 March 2015. In December, the Commission published a report showing that demand for milk has grown between 2003 and 2007 and is expected to continue growing between 2007 and 2014. The outlook for both demand and prices on the world market is equally positive. The report showed that a 2 percent increase was fully justified.

"I am delighted that ministers have backed an increase in quotas," said Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "We have seen clear increases in milk prices over the past year and a growing call for higher quotas. In the coming years, demand for high value-added dairy products will continue to rise both within Europe and around the world. We need to equip our farmers to meet that increased demand. We will come back to this issue in May in the Health Check proposals. We need to prepare a soft landing for the expiry of milk quotas in 2015."

As part of the 2003 CAP reform, the Commission originally proposed an additional 2 percent quota increase on top of the 1.5% already agreed for 11 Member States in Agenda 2000. The Council decided against the additional increase but called on the Commission to report on the market situation, once the reform was fully implemented, before a final decision was taken.

The 2003 reform also made a number of other changes to the dairy market regime to make it more responsive to market signals, including a reduction in the intervention prices for butter and skimmed milk powder. It also agreed that quotas would end in April 2015. Positive market developments combined with the reform have contributed to a situation where all export refunds are now at zero for the first time since the system was set up in 1968 and intervention stores are empty. Internal disposal aids are zero as well, as was foreseen to be the case after the reform.

The market outlook report concludes that between 2003 and 2007, expanding cheese and fresh milk production absorbed an additional 5.5 million tonnes of milk, while overall milk production remained stable. According to the Commission's analysis, between 2007 and 2014, an additional supply of about 8.0 million tonnes would be needed to meet growing internal demand, particularly for cheese. Meanwhile, the outlook for the world market is positive, with growing demand for EU foods in particular in emerging markets. Leaving quotas unchanged would prevent the EU from exploiting rising demand and healthy price levels.

The Commission's analysis shows that the market offers ample opportunities to absorb a 2 percent quota increase. While it assumes that the increase will be fully utilised, the actual impact on production is likely to be more limited, taking into account the current situation where national quotas are not fully utilised in a number of Member States.

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/milk/index_en.htm

National quotas

Member State / Quantities (kilos)
Belgium / 3 427 288 740
Bulgaria / 998 580 000
Czech Republic / 2 792 689 620
Denmark / 4 612 619 520
Germany / 28 847 420 391
Estonia / 659 295 360
Ireland / 5 503 679 280
Greece / 836 923 260
Spain / 6 239 289 000
France / 25 091 321 700
Italy / 10 740 661 200
Cyprus / 148 104 000
Latvia / 743 220 960
Lithuania / 1 738 935 780
Luxembourg / 278 545 680
Hungary / 2 029 861 200
Malta / 49 671 960
Netherlands / 11 465 630 280
Austria / 2 847 478 469
Poland / 9 567 745 860
Portugal / 1 987 521 000
Romania / 3 118 140 000
Slovenia / 588 170 760
Slovakia / 1 061 603 760
Finland / 2 491 930 710
Sweden / 3 419 595 900
United Kingdom / 15 125 168 940

Source: press release of the European Commission 17.03.2008

European Commission: EU public continues to be highly favourable towards recent agricultural policy reforms

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

For the second year running, EU citizens have given a strong endorsement to recent changes to EU farm policy. This is one of the main findings of a poll examining the attitudes of citizens to agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy.

This survey, following on from a similar one conducted in 2006, confirms a predominantly favourable reaction to key elements of the 2003 agreement on CAP reform. The survey, conducted by TNS Opinion on behalf of the European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development, was carried out between the 19th of November and the 14th of December 2007[1]. Using the methodology of the standard Eurobarometer, around 1000 face-to-face interviews were conducted in each of the 27 EU Member States.

The EU public is largely favourable towards a key element of the reformed CAP, involving the way in which farmers receive support. A clear majority think that giving more funding to rural development, as well as paying farmers directly instead of subsidising their products are positive developments (52%). Moreover, this viewpoint is more prevalent than it was in the previous year (by +3 points) and considerably outweighs the opinion that this change is a bad development (12%).

Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of European citizens support the ‘cross-compliance’ principle, whereby farmers face a reduction in payments if they fail to meet environmental, animal welfare or food safety standards. Between 85% and 88% support these measures, depending on the specific standards in question.

The survey also shows that food prices have become a key issue over the last year, with 43% mentioning ensuring reasonable food prices as a policy priority. This represents an increase of +8 percentage points from the previous survey and reflects the reality of rising global prices during the intervening period.

In the public mind, agriculture and the rural areas continue to be seen as playing a vital role within the EU. Almost 9 in every 10 (89%) citizens say that these are key issues for the future of Europe.

This view finds further expression in opinions on the EU agricultural budget. Around 6 in 10 (58%) feel that this budget should either stay the same or increase over the coming years, compared to just 18% who think it should decrease. Furthermore, the share of respondents thinking the budget should increase has risen (by +3 points).

This year’s survey also asked a new series of questions about trade in agricultural products. Here, 50% agree that agricultural tariffs and quotas should be maintained, with exception made for imports from developing countries; 37% disagree with this idea. However, this comes with the caveat that all imports should comply with health and quality standards (86% agree vs. 5% disagree).

Additional information:
Press release of the European Commission
Eurobarometer: What Europeans think of the CAP
Full report "Europeans, Agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy"

"Estonian vodka" is a protected geographical indication in the European Union

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The European Parliament and Council have enforced a new regulation on spirit drinks and it will be applied starting 20 May 2008. With this regulation, "Estonian vodka" is a protected geographical indication.

The European Commission has been very obliging and has already beforehand added the geographical indication "Estonian vodka" for Estonia to the regulation, which now stands next to the geographical indications of Finland, Sweden, Slovakkia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. For all the registered geographical indication, the Member States have to present a technical file by 20 February 2015, the latest. If a technical file has not been presented by the deadline, the indication will be removed from the annex of the regulation.

The new vodka definition enforced with the new regulation on spirit drinks (110/2008) does not limit the usage of raw materials, but, in case the spirit used to produce vodka is from other agricultural raw materials than crops of potatoes, the raw material has to be listed on the etiquette, following the horisontal rules on labelling according to regulation 2000/13 (easily understandable, attracting attention, visible, clear and unfading). In other words, if vodka is produced from non-traditional raw materials, like grape mark or beet molasses, the etiquette has to be labelled "grape marc vodka" or "beet molasses vodka".

According to the new regulation, the vodka producing countries in the European Union (for example, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden), where the traditional raw materials for vodka production are crops and potatoes, do not have to list the raw materials on the etiquette.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Ministry of Agriculture
Press Officer
Phone: +372 625 6254, +372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

Seeder: differences between the agricultural policies of Estonia and Finland do not hinder further cooperation

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

"The differences between agricultural policies of Estonia and Findland do not hinder further cooperation between the countries and enable shaping the common agricultural policy," said the Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder after meeting with the Finnish Minister of Agriculture Sirkka-Liisa Anttila. According to Seeder, the differences mostly arise due to the fact that we have joined the EU at different times and conditions, also we have natural distinctions.

Seeder and Anttila found the development of Pillar II (rural development support) of the common agricultural policy important. Both of the countries also support the harmonization of support levels within the Community.

The ministers found that it is important to cooperate in developing a new characterization for less-favoured areas, which would correspond to actual conditions. It also became clear at the meeting that Estonia and Finland could support each other in the issue of support upper and lower limit negotiations.

On the second day of the 2-day visit, Seeder is visiting the Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA) and Neste Oil Porvoo biodiesel plants.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

Seeder is on a visit to Finland and is meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of Finland Sirkka-Liisa Anttila

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder is on a visit to Finland on March 4-5. During the visit he meets the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland Sirkka-Liisa Anttila.

Seeder will introduce the Estonian positions on the changes of the common agricultural policy to the Finnish minister.

Additionally to meeting the Minister of Agriculture of Finland, Seeder has also planned to visit Neste Oli Porvoo biodiesel plants and The Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA).

Estonia and Finland have co-operated before on the field of bioenergy. In January last year, a meeting on the topic of biomass took place in Helsinki between the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture, Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and a bioenergy enterprise VAPO. Also, a Bioenergy summer camp was held in Kääriku last August, where Finnish scientists were giving lectures and in September last year, a biogas training course took place, where the technological solutions of biogas production were introduced.

Seeder is accompanied on his visit by the Deputy Secretary General for Agricultural and Trade Policies Andres Oopkaup, the Deputy Secretary General for Food Safety Toivo Nõvandi and the Deputy Head of the Eurpean Union and Foreign Affairs Department Siim Tiidemann.

Additional information:
Karina Loi
Press Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture
Phone: +372 625 6254
GSM: +372 52 91 403
E-mail: karina.loi@agri.ee

Estonia may gain success in producing bioenergy already during the next few coming years

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The 3-day international conference "Bioenergy and Bioenergy 2008", which took place last week, brought many international experts to Tallinn. Over 20 foreign speakers gave an overview about the production of biomass and bioenergy in Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, USA and elsewhere. Additionally, many speakers from Estonia also took part.

The conference could be taken as a mid-term review of the first implementation year of the Estonian Biomass and Bioenergy Development Plan 2007-2013. The economic, technological and environmental aspects of bioenergy and bioenergy production, policies of promoting biomass production, and the corresponding research and development issues were viewed.

Biomass and bioenergy production monitoring started by the Ministry of Agriculture should become regular. From the results so far, it becomes clear that in Estonia, only a small share of biomass is used for energy. Over 2/3 of the scraps of forest and timber industry are left unused, less than a tenth is used from manure and pig manure. In motor fuels, the weight of biofuels is 0,1% instead of the 2% required by the directive of the European Commission.

Estonia's contribution in producing bioenergy has been improved by the usage of wood for heating. In producing pellets per person, Estonia holds the first position in the world. At first, 95% goes for export, because only a bit more than a 1000 pellet caldrons in Estonia.

Estonia may gain success in the production of bioenergy, when the drafted plans for bioenergy production are implemented: a biodiesel factory in Paldiski and bioethanol factory in Kunda would make it possible to process almost all of the potential bioenergetic material, Väo and Iru combined plants might turn into energy a large share of the scraps of forest works and carbage for burning, big projects of converting pig manure into bioenergy are currently running in Viiratsi pig-breeding integrated plant EKSEKO and in Torma Agriculture Plc. At the moment, biogas plants are planned at least in 20 locations. Certainly, all of energy production will take place consicering also biological diversity, environmental requirements, technological development and without damaging the production of raw materials for food.

In the near future, the support measures of the Rural Development Plan (RDP) and other structural funds measures are implemented, which will definitely make the situation more beneficial already in 2008 for those, who take an interest in the issue.

Conference presentations can be found on the joint bioenergy webpage of the Baltic States, which is administered by Estonia: http://www.bioenergybaltic.ee starting March 10. From the same webpage, also the montly results of biofuels price monitoring can be found.

Additional information:
Janika Salev
Head of the Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 561
E-mail: janika.salev@agri.ee

Ministers of Agriculture Barnier and Seeder: reaching a compromise on the changes of the agriculture policy is possible

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Today, at the meeting of Helir-Valdor Seeder and the French Minister of Agriculture Michel Barnier, main attention was targeted to the issues of food market stabilisation, crisis management and also reaching a political agreement concerning the changes of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

Both of the ministers stressed that mechhanisms need to be developed, which would help to stabilise food markets and prevent possible crises (food hygiene, climate etc). Also, the importance of the compliance to EU standards of food imported from outside the EU, in order to protect local consumers and producers, was stressed.

The ministers admitted that, even though the agriculture sectors of EL countries are very different, reaching a compromise on the changes of the CAP are possible and highly necessary. Barnier expressed the hope that a final agreement on the proposals for change of the CAP presented by the Commission in May will be reached, during the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in November.

The ministers also stated that regarding some questions, Estonia and France share the same opinion, but there are also topics, which need additional discussions in order to reach a compromise. One of these topics is modulation, i.e. redirecting financial resources from CAP Pillar I (direct aid) to Pillar II (rural development support).

At the end of the meeting, Barnier invited the Estonian minister to participate at the Informal Meeting of the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, where the main topic will be discussions on the future of the CAP.

The recording of the press conference can be found on the webpage of the Ministry of Agriculture http://www.agri.ee/?id=27604. Also, photos of print quality are available of the meeting of the ministers, which can be found at http://www.agri.ee/?id=27623. The author of the photos is Karin Kaljuläte (Maaleht).

During today´s visit, Michel Barnier also visited the European Union Affairs Committee and Rural Affairs Committee (additional information http://www.riigikogu.ee/?id=49153) and the Prime Minister Andrus Ansip (additional information http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=293276).

The visit of Barnier is connected to the coming precidency of France (July-December 2008) and the purpose was to introduce the agricultural issues more important to France, drawing the most attention to the discussions on the future of the CAP.

Estonian positions on the change of the CAP were approved by the Government on 7 February. The positions can be found on the webpage of the ministry http://www.agri.ee/?id=27045.

Additional information:
Margus Palu
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6524
GSM: +372 52 007 81
E-mail: margus.palu@agri.ee

French minister of agriculture Mr. Michel Barnier will visit Estonia

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

On Monday, March 3^rd, the French Minister of Agriculture Mr. Michel Barnier will be visiting Estonia. During the visit, Mr. Barnier will meet the members of the European Union Affairs Committee and the Rural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, the Prime Minister Mr. Andrus Ansip and the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Helir-Valdor Seeder. The meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture will be followed by a jointly held press conference.

The objective of the Minister’s visit is to introduce French priorities during the forthcoming presidency of France from July 2008 to December 2008, giving particular attention to the discussions concerning the future of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Within the framework of the current presidency of Slovenia, general aspects of CAP “health check” are being analyzed. During the presidency of France it is planned to proceed with the Commission’s proposals on “health check” expected in May to reach a compromise by the end of 2008.

The food safety aspects of comestible goods, which are being imported from outside the Community and their conformity with the EU standards, are also of high importance to France. In addition the risk and crisis management system will be discussed.

Additional information:
Margus Palu
Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 625 6524
GSM: +372 520 0781
E-mail: margus.palu@agri.ee

Alternative energy choices - a challenge

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

A 3-day international conference "Biomass and Bioenergy 2008" was opened at the Estonian Fairs Centre today, on February 27th.

Of late years, the problem of energy supply has become one of the most discussed subjects and alternative energy choices the biggest challenge. Opening the conference, Estonian Minister of Agriculture Mr. Helir-Valdor Seeder quoted the anniversary speech made by the President of the Republic of Estonia, in which the President stressed the importance of energy. Minister also referred to the economic efficiency of German, Austrian and Swedish biofuels systems stressing that several governments have given much attention to the use of bioenergy. Inter alia, minister raised a question of the possibilities to find balance between producing bioenergy and food.

The objective of the conference is to provide an overview of the production of energy crops suitable to Estonian conditions, the experience of the use of biomass and processing waste, the results of environmental impact research and the possibilities to produce bioenergy. Both Estonian and foreign researchers, business operators and public sector employees will address the conference, introducing the newest bioenergy production technologies, their economic efficiency, environmental impact and future prospects. An overview of the measures to promote the production of renewable energy and of the financial instruments provided under different national development plans will also be given.

The conference takes place on the initiative and under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SIDA, the Swedish Trade Council and the Estonian Fair Ltd.

Information about the conference and its agenda can be found at the following address: http://www.fair.ee/index.php?mess=1010.

Additional information:
Janika Salev
Head of the Public Relations Department
Phone: +372 6256 561
GSM: +372 5038573
E-mail: janika.salev@agri.ee