(...) The current latest trend in almost every sphere is the European Green Deal, which will indeed affect not only those who manage the land—farmers, foresters—but also the timber industry, food processing, including the fish industry and fisheries, as well as transport. In fact, all of our lives. I agree that it is necessary to reduce waste of all kinds, to ensure its maximum possible recycling and reuse, but questions remain about the specific manifestations, risks, and impacts of the process. If the Green Deal is truly implemented in the form currently suggested by possible implementation scenarios, the Latvian economy, which is linked to land use, will cease to exist. It is not without reason that the heads of several business NGOs claim that the Green Deal has taken on the shape not of a vision, but of a hallucination. For example, the set targets to reduce plant protection products and mineral fertilisers by certain volumes will significantly decrease crop yields compared to current levels. I believe and hope that common sense will prevail and that the Green Deal will acquire practical and realistically achievable measures to reach its stated goal. I will put all my efforts into ensuring this happens. In this regard, 2022 and 2023 will be decisive, with the level of food inflation that the consumer does not yet see in the shops. The buyer will only see the consequences of current negotiations with shops regarding shelf prices in about two quarters—six months' time.
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