After 35 years at the helm of the Farmers’ Alliance, Camille Schroeder recently passed on the presidency to Marco Koeune. On Thursday morning, Koeune was a guest on RTL Radio.
The organic farmer and newly elected mayor of Commune Lac de la Haute-Sûre shed light on Luxembourg’s agricultural landscape, comprising approximately 1,700 farms, and highlighted the unwavering optimism among farmers despite various challenges and crises.
The current wet weather as well as the recent drought both pose challenges for the upcoming harvest season, according to Koeune, who expects conditions to have an impact on yields, albeit varying by region. He emphasised the need for Luxembourg farmers to diversify crops, favouring those less dependent on water.
Regarding the recently passed agricultural law, Koeune shared that while it ultimately serves the interests of the agricultural sector, its journey to fruition was not without obstacles. Initial discussions led some farmers to feel overlooked by the government.
However, the final version of the law is “coherent” and garnered unanimous support in the Chamber of Deputies. Koeune believes this legislation holds significant importance for the sector, aiming to encourage young farmers to invest and thrive.
As an organic farmer for 25 years, Koeune underlined the benefits of organic farming, especially in safeguarding water resources. He acknowledged a growing demand for organic food, and while Luxembourg ranks third in the EU for organic consumption, it stands at the 23rd position concerning acreage. Koeune stressed that there is room for improvement, citing other countries as examples. Currently, organic farming represents 6.6% of agriculture in Luxembourg. In 2018, the government set out to achieve 20% by 2025.
