23,000 take to Berlin streets | Agricultural and Rural Convention

Despite cold temperatures, Saturday saw 23,000 people take to the streets in Berlin to protest against the EU’s and Germany’s food and farming policy. Under the motto “We’ve had enough! – Farms instead of agribusiness”, people came to protest against genetic engineering in food, food scandals (such as the recent antibiotic story) and animal cruelty in industrial farms, and demand a future of agriculture that works with, not against, the environment. Consumers, environmental and animal rights activists, beekeepers, farmers and developmental groups gathered in front of the German Chancellor’s Office and demanded that Merkel reorientate agricultural policy.