EU May Let Farmers Use Fallow Land As Ukraine War Hits Grain Supply

The European Union will consider letting farmers use fallow land, notably to grow protein crops for livestock feed, to counter disruption to supply from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, officials said.

Russia’s week-old invasion of Ukraine has sent European wheat prices to record highs. Ukraine and Russia are two of the world’s largest grain exporters.

Trading firms have been seeking EU grain, wheat and corn to replace Ukrainian supplies for export, but the EU is also reliant on imports of corn and sunflower seed for livestock feed.

The European Commission is to study how to apply such a move, which would modify EU farm policy rules on preserving soils and biodiversity, and make proposals at a next ministers’ meeting on 21 March, the told reporters.

ESM