Tens of Thousands Demand End to Big Ag in Berlin March

Tens of thousands of people—and more than 100 tractors—swarmed the streets of Berlin this weekend to demand a food system transformation nourished by political policies that foster ecological farming.

“Farmers and consumers from all over Europe have made it clear that they are fed up with current policies that benefit huge food and agriculture corporations, at the expense of the environment, peasant farming, and public safety,” said Adrian Bebb, food and farming campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, and among the estimated 33,000 that took part in the Saturday march.

33,000 people + 160 tractors on the streets of #Berlin.
Loud and clear: we are fed up with agri-business! #WHES18
pic.twitter.com/tuzz9AmoRh

— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) January 20, 2018

“Policymakers at the European and national level need to listen, and use the upcoming reform of the EU’s common agricultural policy to build a better food system for the future,” he added.

According to the more than 100 groups that organized the march, policies must shift so that industrial agriculture is dumped in favor climate- and farmer-friendly practices.

A good place to start they say, is by banning the controversial weedkiller Roundup.

“Food is political—more and more people realize this. But politicians nurture an agricultural sector that detrimentally affects the environment and animals in the name of productivity,” said Jochen Fritz, a spokesperson for the organizers.

The demonstration took place as International Green Week, an major agricultural exposition, kicked off in the German capital.

Friends of the Earth Europe and BUND/Friends of the Earth Germany tweeted images and videos from the march:

1000s protest in #Berlin for a food + farming revolution. Greener, just + peasant-friendly farms! #PeoplePower#WHES18#FutureofCAPpic.twitter.com/7vrVOiR6bO

— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) January 20, 2018

We are fed up with agri-business! Farms not factories, diversity not monoculture, fair trade not free trade.#WHES18#FutureofCAPpic.twitter.com/uCIKBjpC4f

— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) January 20, 2018

Wir schlagen Alarm, genau da, wo sich die Agrarminister aus aller Welt treffen! Unüberhörbar! 🔊📣🕭 #WHES18pic.twitter.com/zBeABIUmHh

— BUND (@bund_net) January 20, 2018

Die 160 Traktoren sind durch. Jetzt starten wir! #WHES18pic.twitter.com/DnT9ruwppZ

— BUND (@bund_net) January 20, 2018

Klasse Aktion! @BUNDjugend braut das Rezept für eine bessere Landwirtschaft! 🔮🌾ðŸ·pic.twitter.com/Rj2pE3h7HH

— BUND (@bund_net) January 20, 2018

Ihr seid unglaublich! 33.000 von euch sind heute mit uns für eine #Agrarwende auf die Straße gegangen! Ihr habt getrommelt und euch in Küken-Mützen warm getanzt. DANKE!!! 💚#WHES18#wirhabeneuchliebpic.twitter.com/ZxEGNyLqpt

— BUND (@bund_net) January 20, 2018