Latest news with #Poulsen
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Call to sustain position of milk producers on World Milk Day
As World Milk Day takes place tomorrow (Sunday June 1), the European Milk Board (EMB) is reaffirming its call for sustainably strengthening the position of milk producers in the food chain. The board has said that fair and adequate remuneration for dairy farmers is the only way to secure the future of the European dairy sector in the long-term and to ensure the supply of high-quality milk products to the population. EMB president Kjartan Poulsen said: 'World Milk Day is an important occasion to recognise the hard work of our dairy farmers and, at the same time, to draw attention to the ongoing challenges in the sector. 'Without the right reforms, the existence of many farms remains under threat. It is high time that politicians create framework conditions that enable cost-covering prices and guarantee that producers are adequately remunerated for their valuable work.' Milk producers The EMB sees the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU as a key instrument for improving the producer position. Against the background of World Milk Day, the EMB has drawn up reform proposals for the CAP and the Common Market Organisation (CMO), which aim to increase market stability and give farmers a stronger negotiating position. The EMB's current reform proposals for the CAP/CMO include: Integration of crisis instruments that have a preventive effect and are triggered early in the event of market imbalances. The aim is to avoid extreme price fluctuations and losses with instruments like the Market Responsibility Programme; Strengthening the collective bargaining power of producers by promoting producer organisations with a pooling limit of 30% across the EU. This is intended to enable farmers to achieve fairer prices vis-a-vis the stronger processors and retailers; Introduction of mandatory criteria – such as the prohibition of prices below costs – for fair trading practices along the value chain. This is intended to prevent unfair competition and the exploitation of market power; Obligatory contracts with the appropriate clauses to promote fairness between producers and processors; Integrating processing cooperatives into this market framework – with all its rights and obligations. 'The current discussions about the future direction of the CAP offer a decisive opportunity to set the course for a more resilient and fairer milk market,' Poulsen continued. 'It is of paramount importance that policymakers set a clear focus on empowering producers and are not swayed by other interests. The future of the European dairy sector depends on it.' The EMB has appealed to policymakers at national and European level to implement these reform proposals in the interest of milk producers. The board said that this is the only way to achieve the goal of strengthening the producer position along the chain and to ensure the sustainable production of high-quality milk in Europe in the long-term. World Milk Day World Milk Day is celebrated each year on June 1 and is about supporting nutrition, health, and economic resilience around the globe. World Milk Day is described as a movement that highlights milk as a vital, accessible food source that nourishes billions. Tomorrow (Sunday, June 1) marks the 25th anniversary of World Milk Day, with this year celebrating the power of dairy as a nutrient-rich food and an important part of healthy, sustainable diets. Along with calcium and protein, milk is rich in iodine and vitamins B2 and B12, while also providing potassium and phosphorus. Chief executive at the Dairy Council NI, Ian Stevenson commented: 'Milk is a naturally nutrient-rich choice that supports active lifestyles and healthy diets. 'Today, we raise a glass in appreciation of our local dairy farmers and processors and their vital role in producing wholesome, nutritious food for communities here in Northern Ireland and across the world.'
Daily News Egypt
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Danish minister calls US talk of controlling Greenland 'not a serious discussion
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on Tuesday called discussion of potential US control over Greenland 'not a serious discussion,' amid reports of increased American interest in the autonomous Danish territory. Speaking at a European security conference in Copenhagen, Poulsen emphasised Denmark's commitment to the NATO alliance. 'We are strong allies within NATO, and I cannot imagine that a member state of NATO could take a part of another NATO country,' he said, referring to remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland. 'I don't think this is a serious discussion.' Poulsen also confirmed Denmark's commitment to boosting its defence investments, noting his country's readiness to raise spending to over 4% of its gross domestic product, thereby exceeding the threshold set by the European Union, as reported by Politico. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had ordered US intelligence agencies to intensify their efforts in gathering intelligence on the island. Poulsen, who also serves as Denmark's Deputy Prime Minister, declined to comment on these recent reports suggesting increased US espionage on Greenland, stating Washington is 'a friend to Europe and Denmark.' 'You see a lot of rumours in the media, and I do not comment on these rumours,' Poulsen said. He added, 'We, with Greenland and the Faroe Islands, are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United States cannot take a part of this Kingdom.' Mute Bourup Egede, Greenland's Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the Arctic island is prepared to talk with the Americans. 'Our fate will not be decided without us, and we are not owned by anyone. Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people,' he expressed. Although Egede did not directly address the espionage reports, he clearly criticised the US President: 'We have been good partners, but what Trump is doing now, we don't like.' Egede suggested that Trump's assertions have brought Greenland closer not only to Denmark but also to the European Union. The autonomous Danish territory voted in a 1982 referendum to withdraw from the European Community, the precursor to the EU, and officially left the bloc in 1985. Egede added that he is ready to discuss a minerals deal with Brussels. 'We have 27 out of the 35 essential minerals that the European Union wants. We need work, we need growth in our country, and if the EU or the US wants our essential materials, they have to talk to us,' Egede said. Trump raised the possibility of acquiring Greenland during his first term and has repeatedly returned to the idea this year. In an interview earlier this month, he did not rule out using force to seize the island, which has a population of 57,000. Separately, CNN reported, citing US officials, that the Trump administration is considering changes that would transfer responsibility for US security interests in Greenland to the military command overseeing US national defence. This underscores President Trump's focus on the strategically important region, which he has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire. The US network added that the change under consideration would move Greenland from the area of responsibility of US European Command (EUCOM) to US Northern Command (NORTHCOM). It clarified that some discussions on this matter predate Trump's return to office this year. Ostensibly, placing Greenland under NORTHCOM's authority appears somewhat logical, given its geographical location as part of the North American continent, despite its political and cultural ties to Europe as a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. US Northern Command is primarily responsible for protecting US territory and currently oversees missions such as the southern border task force. Placing Greenland under NORTHCOM's command would also be symbolic, as it would, in this command structure, separate Greenland from Denmark, which would remain under EUCOM's oversight.
Irish Examiner
05-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Farm View: Europe's dairy mega-merger risks weakening farmer power
Europe's new dairy co-op giant, after the Arla-DMK merger, will not be welcomed by some dairy farmers on the continent. Co-ops have ceased to be the representatives of producers' interests they claim to be on paper, said Kjartan Poulsen, an Arla member, but also the president of the European Milk Board, which represents tens of thousands of dairy farmers through its 21 member organisations in 16 European countries (including ICMSA in Ireland). "Co-operatives in their current form neither live up to their responsibility nor meet the standards they themselves set out," said Poulsen. He said obligatory contracts between agricultural producers and processors were currently being discussed at EU level, as an instrument for fair and transparent prices paid to farmers, but co-ops regularly demand exceptions to this obligation. And he said co-op members also lose out because they cannot be represented by producer organisations to fight for higher prices. Meanwhile, co-ops cover large EU market shares, and the new giant Arla and DMK are creating is a prime example of this, said the EMB president. "So, if co-operatives are exempted from contractual obligations, this means that a large part of the market, and thus the problem, is not covered. Fair prices and transparent contracts remain an illusion at the expense of producers." The proposed merger of Arla Foods, which is based in Denmark, and Germany's DMK Group will unite more than 12,000 dairy farmers in Europe's largest dairy co-op. With members in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the new group would have a combined annual revenue of about €19bn (based on Arla's €13.8bn and DMK's €5.1bn in 2024). Arla and DMK believe the merger will provide resilience during the anticipated decline of the European milk pool. The European Commission predicts the EU dairy herd shrinking 13% by 2035, compared to the 2021-2023 average, and says EU milk production could decline 0.2% per year up to 2035. The merger is subject to regulatory approval and the backing in June of the board of representatives in each co-op. Kjartan Poulsen warned of a systematic weakening of democracy in co-ops, interfering with their goal to support the economic situation of members. He said individual members do not have the legal or economic knowledge, time or structural resources to really shape decision-making. Many co-ops are run by management rather than members, who are often only involved via representative assemblies, according to the EMB president. "Crucial lines of business such as marketing are often outsourced, making control even more difficult." Many farmers are dependent on their co-operative as a buyer — criticism threatens their livelihood. He said there was a particularly clear conflict of interest in the dairy sector between co-ops procuring the cheapest possible raw materials (low milk prices) and fighting for good milk prices paid to their members. He called for contracts between producers and buyers, which have been put on the table by the European Commission, to apply equally to co-ops and other processors. He also called for members to have the possibility to be represented by producer organisations within co-ops. The EMB has long campaigned for a milk price that covers the average milk production costs, and a crisis prevention instrument to prevent over-production of milk.
Kuwait Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Leipzig put Bayern and Kane's title party on ice
MUNICH: Bayern Munich and Harry Kane's German Bundesliga title party was delayed by at least a day after RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen scored a stoppage-time equaliser in a 3-3 home draw on Saturday. With Kane sitting in the stands due to a yellow card suspension, Bayern fell two down by half-time, Leipzig scoring twice in teaming rain in Saxony through Benjamin Sesko and Lukas Klostermann. Bayern then scored twice in 46 seconds through Eric Dier and Michael Olise to level things up with just under 30 minutes remaining. Leroy Sane looked to have completed the comeback and clinch the title, hitting an unstoppable shot from the right of goal on the 83rd-minute mark. But Poulsen, subbed on with 30 minutes to go, chipped the ball over goalie Jonas Urbig in the fifth minute of stoppage time to snatch a draw. 'This sport is fun,' said veteran Bayern midfielder Thomas Mueller, who will leave the club in the summer. 'It's a little weird after that late equalizer. I feel like a champion but we're not there quite yet. 'We need to sort out our feelings and make things clear next week.' Despite the draw, defending champions Leverkusen's chances of overtaking Bayern remain close to impossible. Bayern are six points ahead and have a 30-plus goal difference advantage over Xabi Alonso's side, who play at Freiburg on Sunday. Leipzig grabbed the lead 11 minutes in when Sesko pounced on a mistake from Urbig, who was slipped while well outside of his penalty box, allowing the Slovenian to hit a long-range shot home. Klostermann doubled Leipzig's lead shortly before half-time, heading in from a David Raum header. Leipzig, who needed a win to boost their hopes of Champions League football next season, were in control and looked on track for victory until Bayern shocked the hosts with two goals in 46 seconds. Dier headed in from a corner, his third goal in his past four games, before Olise made the most of a Leipzig defensive mistake to level the scores. Sane's late goal sent Bayern's bench wild. As the clock wound down, a beaming Kane made his way down from the stands to the sidelines, ready to collect the title of his career. Poulsen was however sent through on goal by Xavi Simons and cooly chipped the 'keeper to delay Bayern's party. Elsewhere, Union Berlin came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against Werder Bremen, denting the visitors hopes of European football this season. Bremen, hoping to return to Europe for the first time in 15 years, were two goals up after a quarter of an hour thanks to a Jens Stage brace. Union's Tom Rothe pulled one back with a header late in the first half and Laszlo Benes scored with six minutes remaining. Borussia Moenchengladbach's European hopes also took a hit with a wild 4-4 home draw against Hoffenheim, leaving them three points off the Europa League placings with two games remaining. Nick Woltemade scored with two minutes remaining to send Stuttgart to a 1-0 win at Stuttgart. Later on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund can keep their top-four hopes alive with a win at home against Wolfsburg. Champions League finalists last season, Dortmund were as low as 11th this year but have won four of their past five.- AFP
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kane's Bayern denied title party by late Leipzig goal
RB Leipzig scored in the fifth minute of injury time to prevent Bayern Munich from sealing a 34th German league title after a dramatic 3-3 draw at the Red Bull Arena. Yussuf Poulsen scored with practically the last kick of the game to deny Bayern the three points they needed to wrestle the title back from Bayer who have a nine-point lead and a goal difference of +30 over second-placed Leverkusen, now need one more point to mathematically secure the Kompany's side had battled back from two goals down at half-time in Leipzig to take the lead, with goals from Eric Dier, Michael Olise and Leroy captain Harry Kane, who was serving a one-match suspension, had made his way down from the stands to pitchside as Bayern prepared to celebrate their first league title since Poulsen scored to give Leipzig a share of the Sesko, 21, had given Leipzig the lead with a superb long-range finish with the outside of his boot, before Lukas Klostermann doubled the home side's advantage with a header shortly before half-time. Bayern hit back with two goals in 46 seconds, first through former Tottenham defender Dier and then through ex-Crystal Palace winger Olise. Bayern found what looked to be the winner six minutes from time when Germany winger Sane curled a stunning effort into the bottom corner. But Poulsen, in the 94th minute, chipped Jonas Urbig to delay Bayern's title celebrations. Kompany's side will be crowned champions if Leverkusen, who have a game in hand, fail to beat SC Freiburg on Sunday (16:30 BST). Should Leverkusen win, Bayern will have the chance to claim the title at the Allianz Arena against Borussia Monchengladbach on 9 May.
