Don’t be like Europe.

That was the message to farmers during a keynote speech at this year’s CropConnect Conference in Winnipeg in mid-February.

“The European approach in general is that, ‘We have gotten things absolutely right,’” said speaker Bill Wirtz. “Essentially, ‘You have no idea what you’re doing. It’s only us.’”

“When have millions of Europeans ever been wrong?” he added, to audience laughter.

Why it matters: European farmers have chafed under the bloc’s strict environmental regulations and policies, which have sparked protests in several countries. 

Wirtz, originally from Luxembourg, is a senior policy analyst with the think tank Consumer Choice Center. His organization has been critical of European Union authorities, including EU food and agricultural policies.

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