Organic farmers now have the opportunity to apply for grants for luger robots.
Økologisk NuSeveral ecologists have recently pointed out the problematic issue that conventional farmers can apply for subsidies for the purchase of, among other things, weed robots from a pool that ecologists do not have access to. The Organic Association has repeatedly highlighted the problem and, together with the Organic Section of the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, sent a letter in early July to the Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare, Christian Rabjerg Madsen (S). In the letter, they urged the minister to open the technology fund to ecologists, as it would be unfair competition if the support scheme is earmarked for farmers who use pesticides. On Tuesday, representatives from the Organic Association participated in a meeting with the minister, who showed great understanding of the ecologists' criticism. On Wednesday, the association received a letter in which Christian Rabjerg Madsen confirmed that ecologists will also have access to apply for grants when the application round opens later this fall. "We have found a solution whereby organic farms will also be able to apply for the focus area concerning reduction of pesticide use in crop production, so ecologists will be able to apply for grants for, for example, row cleaners and weed robots," the letter states, which has sparked enthusiasm in the Organic Association. It is, of course, not supposed to be more expensive for ecologists than for conventional farmers to purchase weed robots, among other things, the association's message says, which can look forward to a small extra bonus for ecologists. "I will earmark a portion of the funds in each focus area for organic farming (20%), so we ensure that the ecologists applying for the scheme have improved opportunities to receive a grant commitment. Today, about 12% of farms are organic, so with the earmarking of 20% of the funds, ecologists will have better opportunities than conventional farms," the minister's letter states.
Several ecologists have in recent months pointed out the problematic issue that conventional farmers can apply for a subsidy for the purchase of, among other things, weeder robots in a pool, which ecologists do not have access to.
The Organic Association has repeatedly highlighted the problem and, together with the Organic Section of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, sent a letter to the Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen (S) at the beginning of July.
In the letter, they urged the minister to open the technology fund for ecologists, as there would be unfair competition if the support scheme is earmarked for farmers who use pesticides.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Organic Association participated in a meeting with the minister, who showed great understanding of the ecologists' criticism.
On Wednesday, the association received a letter in which Christian Rabjerg Madsen confirms that ecologists will also have access to apply for grants when the application round opens later this fall.
"We have found a solution whereby organic farms will also be able to apply for the focus area that concerns reducing pesticide use in crop production, so ecologists will be able to apply for grants for, e.g., row cleaners and weeder robots," states the letter, which has sparked enthusiasm in the Organic Association.
Because it should of course not be more expensive for ecologists than for conventional farmers to purchase weeder robots, etc., is the message from the association, which can look forward to a small extra bonus for ecologists.
"I will earmark a portion of the funds in each individual focus area for organic farming (20%), so we ensure that the ecologists applying for the scheme have improved opportunities to receive a commitment to a grant. Today, about 12% of the farms are organic, so with the earmarking of 20% of the funds, ecologists will have better opportunities than conventional farms," says the minister in the letter.