In recent months, farmers across Europe and India have mobilized to protest agricultural policies, reflecting a growing trend of discontent worldwide. The protests began in Europe, where farmers staged demonstrations including blockades, manure dumping and egging of government buildings. These actions mirrored the mass protests witnessed in 2020-21. The discontent among farmers stems from various factors, differing from country to country. However, Christopher Barrett, an agricultural economist, suggests farmers globally feel increasingly targeted by political measures. A recent edition of Flash Points delves into the root causes of these protests, highlighting common grievances among farmers and exploring the influence of climate and trade policies on the transformation of global agriculture.
During last week’s Senate Ag Committee hearing, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was asked about farmer protests abroad. In essence, Vilsack said protests outside this country was a “completely different situation” than in the United States. But if the stick-and-then-carrot approach to force climate-smart practices continue, Vilsack and others may learn, again, that farmers are the same worldwide: they don’t like unfunded mandates and equity policy that redistributes the wealth. A growing number of farmers are beginning to question recent policy moves or proposed moves as “voluntary” because if they don’t oblige, carrots are pulled back.
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