Hacker News Reader

Comment by exceptione | Hacker News Reader

Food security is the last concern for Europe. How do you get that idea?

  > And EU farmers are subject to a ridiculous number of regulations and costs.

Almost the whole EU budget is for agriculture subsidies. Countries outside EU have to comply with the same standards. The US could for instance export in bulk to the EU, if they would manage to bring food up to basic standards. It doesn't happen, but is not because the market isn't open.

View on HN

> Food security is the last concern for Europe. How do you get that idea?

Food security is the first concern for every society, because without food we will all die. The reason almost the whole EU budget (hyperbole, but indeed it is a lot of the EU budget) is spent on agricultural subsidies is precisely to protect our food security.

Truism aside, Europe hasn't a lack of fertile grounds nor good climate.

Europe has a pressing need for minerals and energy.

  > The reason almost the whole EU budget (hyperbole, but indeed 
  > it is a lot of the EU budget) is spent on agricultural 
  > subsidies is precisely to protect our food security.

Protect food security or export status? Case in point, we are overspending on agriculture. Also, it would have been better to trade with African countries wrt the real pressing concern. A missed chance.

> Food security is the first concern for every society, because without food we will all die.

It depends on what you mean by "first concern". Water security is the first concern by that reasoning; nuclear attack security too - without it, everyone dies.

But those aren't serious concerns in any practical sense: In most places in Europe there is plenty of water and food, and attention and resources are rightfully directed elsewhere.

>Food security is the last concern for Europe. How do you get that idea?

On the contrary, it is one of the main concerns of the EU. And has been since the beginning. The CAP still makes up 40% of the budget.

And frankly, for the first time I fully appreciate it. With the current state of the world it's nice that the EU isn't dependent on third parties for their food supply.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com