Money Talks | 05.06.2008 | 00:30
Germany's Dairy Farmers Boycott Milk Deliveries
As world leaders struggle to find ways to keep global food prices from spiraling out of reach for consumers across the developing world, German dairy farmers have been flushing gallons of milk down the drain or using it as a fertilizer. It’s part of a milk delivery boycott that began last week over low milk prices.
German farmers have refused to deliver milk to dairies, and earlier this week, over 20 of the country's 100 main dairies were blockaded by tractors and other vehicles.
Milk prices have fallen sharply in Germany and other EU countries since April, when production quota limits were raised largely to calm the milk market which had seen prices shoot up since June 2007.
Now the dairy farmers' association, BDM, is demanding a minimum of 43 cents per liter of milk. Currently, farmers get between 25 and 35 cents per liter.
Ranjitha Balasubramanyam asked Jutta Jaksche, Food Officer at VZBV, a federation of German consumer organizations, about a satisfactory solution for all parties.
Interview: Ranjitha Balasubramanyam
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