Surely there is a way for the European Union and United States to best feed animals together
I have absolutely no qualification to say what I am about to say, and contrary to good advice given to me to keep my mouth shut on such matters, I am going to say it – but consider it just the opinion of someone ignorant.
The EU has just realized how dependent it remains on energy (gas, oil) that is not of its own origin. I read that they are making a huge U-turn going back to their old faithful ally, the U.S., to regain at least part of their energy independence. I have no say on this matter.
At the same time, wheat is the main feed staple in the EU, and apparently there is no self-sufficiency there either. Not only that, but the EU is trying to make the impossible possible to become sufficient in feed protein. I am also aware of the politics of the past that drove the EU to such a decision, but current affairs no longer justify the past, right?
On the other hand, the U.S. is selling corn and soybeans to “others,” doing the opposite of the EU. In a way, the U.S. is also dependent on such sales, especially because everyone can tell the relationship with their non-friendly (I like this new term) buyers is not going to improve within this century, at least.
So, as a simple person, I have a question: Why don’t the EU and the U.S. cooperate on animal feed ingredients instead of trying to work with entities that are alien to them? There is plenty of corn available in the U.S. to replace wheat imports into the EU and, let’s face it, the EU is never going to become a feed protein producer of any serious scale due to the climate.
As I said, I am no geopolitical expert, not even an ag economist. I just watch the news and listen to the woes of my network of feed professionals in the EU and the U.S. Two great powers that collaborate on more serious matters should be able to find a way to feed animals to mutual benefit.
And since we are on the matter of silly questions, why can I buy Argentinian beef in my local supermarket, but not U.S. beef?