b'The man regards to the organisation of work on the farm and in the family,ES: LIKE WORKING IN THE EU POLICY BUBBLE?you also have this natural and ever-returning rhythm of growingGvE:I have always been interested in history and politics. and harvesting. Maybe that is one explanation for the stabilityAlready in school, these were my favourite subjects. And I had I always felt surrounding me, despite all the political, economicgood teachers who motivated me to read beyond the regular and societal changes that today seem so clear and present whencurriculum and look at the socio-economic background of his-behind the myth historians look back and reflect on the 70s and 80s of the lasttorical and political developments. This usually led to quite century. The other, for sure, being my family. My parents, my twocombative debates as we favoured quite different authors and, younger sisters, but also the many relatives that all lived nearbyconsequently, theories and conclusions. I was -and actually still and of whom again many were either farming themselves or hadam- fascinated by Friedrich August von Hayeks piece on Law, close links to agriculture. Legislation, and Liberty, by Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau and their writings about the natural order and the social contract of ES: SOCIETY AND SCHOOL EDUCATION HASfree individuals. All that probably explains a bit why in my later CHANGED A LOT OVER THE PAST DECADES. WHATstudies I specialised on agricultural politics, law and economics.DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT CHILDREN NOWADAYS ARE MISSING COMPARED TO THE OLD DAYS ASES: BUT THATS STILL QUITE FAR AWAY FROM REGARDS KNOWLEDGE OR AT LEAST AWARENESSWHERE YOU ARE TODAY, ISNT IT?OF FOOD PRODUCTION? GvE:True. Honestly, I never imagined, let alone planned, to end GvE:I dont think it is only the children. The lack of exposure toup in Brussels. Actually, at the time, I rather saw myself some-practical farming, lack of understanding its importance for soci- where in the Ministry for Agriculture in Bonn or in my region, eties and its manifold challenges, all that is already very broadlyin Hannover. But then I did my final thesis on the EUsor the present in most of our European societies. For decades, thereEECs at the timestructural policies and measures in agricul-has been a continuous growth of our urban population while theture, starting with Sicco Mansholt and stretching to the reforms number of people involved in farming has shrunk dramatically.of the 1980s. I did interviews with people at the Directorate for What you dont see and dont experience, you dont understand.Agriculture in Brussels and was pointed to the possibility of a And makes it much easier to decide to ignore or even oppose. Manytraineeship with the Commission. Well, thats how it started. I people never actually see practical farming happen around them. Ifgot hooked. I worked for the Commission, then for a regional the one cow children know is the pink one of the chocolate adver- office, specialised further in European political and administra-tisements that apparently lives healthily forever, happily grazestive sciences with a Master programme at the College of Europe, meadows full of flowers and never produces a bad smell, thatsand finally worked at the European Parliament for a number of probably one part of the explanation of the growing divide in ouryears. To me, the logical next step was to work with rather than modern societies. The way farming is often portrayed, not least bywithin the institutions. And when I was offered the chance to the food industry, doesnt match reality. And when people realiseestablish a new Brussels office for the European seed sector, that that, there is a certain feeling of disappointment, even betrayal,was an almost ideal opportunity to combine my EU expertise and consequently a lasting lack of trust. with my agricultural background and experience. And to truly build something new and leave my mark on it. When I started, ES: GARLICH, LETS IMAGINE YOU COULD TEACHthere were still four different EU level organisations, and a loose A CLASS FULL OF CHILDREN. WHAT WOULD YOUgroup of vegetable companies, all with very different structures, TELL THEM?ideas for the future, budgets and, of course personnel. Merging GvE:Not sure I would make a good teacher. But I think taking kidsthese into a new, single voice for the entire European indus-to farms is probably the best way to start growing that awareness,try was a very exciting project.That this would lead to such a making them curious about where our foods come from, how andlong-lasting engagement wasnt foreseeable at the time.by whom they are produced, from milk to potato and from steak to lettuce, and how difficult and sometimes unpredictable that actu- ES: IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER ALL THOSE YEARS, ally is. I know that there are initiatives and programmes like thisWHAT DO YOU CONSIDER ARE EUROSEEDS ongoing. But I also know of cases where children werent allowedBIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS? to go because their parents despised modern farming and didntGvE:Maintaining a true spirit of collaboration in a highly dif-want this view to be challenged through school education. I thinkferentiated, highly competitive and truly international industry. that shows how difficult it actually is to start building up a newIt is this mix of competition and collaboration that I find truly relationship, based on more practical knowledge and consequentlyfascinating about the plant breeding sector. It is reflected not better understanding. only by structures such as Euroseeds or its national member associations: The International Seed Federation will even cele-ES: HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR EARLY YEARS HAVEbrate its 100th anniversary in just a few years. You could say the INFLUENCED YOUR FURTHER CAREER CHOICES?seed sector always had this association gene as part of its DNA, GvE:Without realising it at the time, of course, I probably got therealising that improving plant varieties requires you to access farming and countryside virus quite early in life. Describing itthe best starting material from all over the world. For that, you today as deeply rooted is probably a fitting picture. I observedneed agreed rules and regulations that balance a broad access what my father did and talked about, heard and saw what gener- to plant material with the protection of intellectual property ations before had done: improving soil, manage water, establishand, nowadays, the rights of sovereign countries; you need to woodlands. To me, it has always felt more a natural developmentfacilitate the movement of plant material across borders while rather than a conscious choice to see myself as part of a continu- avoiding phytosanitary risks and the spread of pests or diseases ity, to feel and take a personal responsibility for preserving, fur- and so much more. Many of todays international as well as EU ther developing and, one day, passing on what was entrusted torules and regulations are the result of the industrys desire and me by my ancestors. What then was a conscious and logical deci- practical need to collaborate by establishing and safeguarding sion was to study agriculture at Gttingen University, a decisionworkable rules for fair competition. Despite all the changes over much supported by my parents who always stressed the need tothe years, all the mergers and acquisitions, the growing globali-learn as much as you can in whatever area of choice, not only tosation of our economies in general and this sector in particular, truly understand and build up expertise but foremost to broadenthis commitment to work together and to build up and contin-your horizon and, consequently, open up wide opportunities.uously support the structures and have dedicated people that EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 7'