“Aprolep expresses its deep concern and indignation at the recent announcement by the cooperatives associated with Lactogal regarding the three-cent-per-litre drop in the price to producers, effective January 1st,” says a statement.

The producers' association added that “this drop immediately affects 70% of Portuguese producers and may trigger further drops by other buyers.”

Aprolep recalled that the price of milk to producers in Portugal has never followed the increases recorded in other countries, because the Portuguese market is predominantly domestic and Iberian. “Using the negative evolution of other markets as justification for price cuts in Portugal reveals a huge lack of coherence,” said the association.

Furthermore, Aprolep stressed that “Portuguese producers have been operating for several years on a survival threshold, without room to invest, innovate or respond to the growing demands in terms of animal welfare, environmental sustainability and product quality.”

Therefore, for the association, any price reduction jeopardises the economic viability of farms, accelerates the abandonment of the activity and compromises national milk production.

“Less national production means greater dependence on imports, loss of jobs in rural areas, abandonment of the territory and a threat to food sovereignty,” Aprolep concluded in its statement.

The announcement of the price drop comes at a time when concerns are also mounting regarding the Mercosur agreement, the 20% reduction in aid to farmers in the proposed PAC reform, and emerging diseases such as Contagious Nodular Dermatosis, which is already affecting neighbouring countries.

Therefore, Aprolep requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes.