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The President of the Republic to the Conference of the Estonian Academic Society of Farmers
12.12.2001


Dear Members of the Society,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It might be surprising for quite many that nowadays almost a half of the world population are still living by farming.

This fact is yet important to be underlined in the context of our age of the economic globalization and turbulent intensification of agricultural production.

Jeremy Rifkin, internationally well-known author of pessimistic future scenarios has suggested that, "whilst the first technological revolution in agriculture substituted machines and chemicals for animal and manpower then, the ongoing biotechnological revolution will soon substitute lab-cultures for agricultural products thus, changing for ever customary conceptions of the production of foodstuffs." But for the not too distant future, in respect of the animal husbandry, a transition to automated farm-factories having only very few in common with this kind of production which has served as the basis of the traditional country life both here and anywhere else has been predicted.

But it is also true that these visions have been written down before mad-cow-disease was discovered and its numerous focuses of infection were identified, and before unprecedented epidemic spreading of the foot-and-mouth disease not only in Europe but elsewhere too. In international markets not only fine goods are traded, but those markets can also bring infected animals and contaminated foodstuffs into circulation. Diseases not yet discovered at present may well be hiding in fodder which nowadays is produced in large quantities to reach high productivity, and which in good faith is bought to make a profit quickly. But the fodder is most directly linked to our table and thus, to our health as well.

It has been stated that adaptation of the human organism to the food got from or produced in the given environment is a very lengthy process, the duration of which should be measured with millennia. But these days, in shopping malls of our capital too one has to take great trouble over finding domestic food for filling his elementary basket with. Modern times are generously offering us chances of sharing new achievements, but are relatively stingy in respect of giving guarantees for the security of those chances.

The aforementioned makes up just only a part of the problems our farmers, agricultural scientists, but statesmen as well, have to deal with while seeking solutions. In my view, forums convened by organizations which are not in the conference business, but which have served the interests of agriculture and its promoters for over a century already, should be regarded as being of crucial importance.

The Estonian Academic Society of Farmers has been promoting the domestic agricultural science and practice already since the times, as one could only dream of an Estonian sovereign state. In 1930s Estonian Society of Farmers regarded as its purpose the following: "The first demand to those developing ways of thinking of Estonian progressive farmers, no matter what their duties in agriculture are, let them be consultants, civil servants, or active farmers, is that - an academic farmer must grow together with the soil and love his profession. He must take account of farmers dispositions and conceptions, must know the peculiarities of rural life, both its good and bad qualities."

I am confident that purposes of those times are as relevant today as they were 70 years ago and, above all, owing to its consistent and purposeful activities for a long time, the Estonian Academic Society of Farmers is one of those organizations whose members are able to contribute to solving the complicated problems facing Estonian agriculture today.

As for me, I shall support your endeavors and share your concerns.

To all of you, I wish a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and fruitful co-operation.


Arnold Rüütel

Kadriorg, December 12, 2001


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