The Riigikogu heard the report by the Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture

At today’s plenary sitting, members of the Riigikogu heard the annual report on the implementation of the long-term national development strategy “Estonia 2035” by the Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras, in which the minister focused on various aspects of Estonia’s food security policy.

Terras said that Estonia was moving towards a comprehensive food security. However, it could not be considered solely in terms of the availability of reserves; rather, it encompassed the entire chain from production and processing to food safety, logistics, and the functioning of regions.

The minister pointed out that in recent years public expectations regarding food and agricultural policy had changed. “While earlier agricultural policy was mainly viewed in terms of subsidies, incomes, and competitiveness, today the questions are much broader: whether there is enough food; whether it is available; whether it is affordable; whether it is safe, and whether the system will cope in times of crisis,” Terras said.

The minister stressed that in a crisis situation, it was impossible to launch food production from scratch, and therefore production capacity had to be ensured before a crisis arose. The goal is to have 110 crisis stores operating in Estonia by the end of 2026. However, they will not replace production or processing but will secure the functioning of the supply chain at its final stage.

In his report, Terras addressed the role of food production in the economy. According to him, agriculture, fisheries and the food production account for approximately 4 percent of Estonia’s value added, and about 36,000 people work in the mentioned sectors. Food exports account for nearly one-fifth of Estonia’s total exports. According to Terras, Estonia should not confine itself to the export of raw materials but should keep the larger share of the value created within the country.

As a long-term objective, the minister identified the goal of increasing the cattle population in Estonia to 500,000. According to Terras, this should be viewed as a means of strengthening the dairy sector, processing and exports, and increasing the economic security of rural areas. At the same time, Terras stressed that the number of cows alone would not make Estonia wealthier. “If the produced milk remains a cheap raw material that we simply export, we do not create the full value here but give most of it away. If more milk is produced in Estonia, its processing and value creation should also remain here. This means more processing, more product development, stronger exports, and more revenue that stays in Estonia,” Terras said.

The minister linked food security to regional development, stressing that regional policy was not the responsibility of a single ministry, but that every state decision affected the balance between the capital region and the rest of Estonia. He pointed out that the 2026 state budget allocated 174.45 million euros for public transport, and an additional 3.7 million euros for the purchase of new buses.

At the same time, Terras emphasised the importance of local-level capacity. “Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act and the Local Government Financial Management Act gave local governments more freedom in organising their work, simplified financial rules, and reduced bureaucracy. This means more room for local decision-making at a time when regional needs and opportunities are very different. A strong local level is not a problem for the state. It is a partner of the state,” Terras said in his report.

Talking about fisheries, Terras noted that the protection of fish stocks was not the opposite of fishing, but a prerequisite for its sustainability. Both the decisions made to protect fish stocks in Pärnu County and the joint communication by Estonia and Sweden to the European Commission regarding cormorant management were based on the objective of keeping the sector viable in the long run.

As regards animal diseases and food safety, the minister pointed out that in 2025 nearly 20 million euros was allocated for the control of African swine fever. According to Terras, food safety is not merely a matter of oversight but an important part of public health protection, consumer trust, and export capacity. Animal welfare is also inseparably linked to biosafety, health protection, and the reliability of Estonia’s food system.

In conclusion, Terras stressed the importance of future political decisions, as they would determine whether the state would be able to perform its core functions itself or whether responses in times of crises would have to come from elsewhere.

“The funding for the next period must provide the sector with at least the minimum level it needs to carry out reforms and improve crisis resilience. Production capacity should not be taken for granted, and processing capacity should not be allowed to flow out. Food security should not be viewed merely as control and prohibition, but as the foundation of trust, health, and exports. That is why “Estonia 2035” is a very practical matter for us,” Terras said.

Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Urmas Kruuse from the Reform Party Group, and Anti Allas from the Social Democratic Party Group took the floor during the debate. Peeter Ernits took the floor on behalf of the Centre Party Group.

A bill was dropped from the proceedings

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a proposal to the Government of the Republic to develop a package to alleviate the electricity price crisis” (815 OE), submitted by the Estonian Centre Party Group, made a proposal to the Government to develop a package aimed at alleviating the impact of exceptionally high electricity prices on the welfare of Estonian residents and businesses, ensuring energy security, and maintaining economic stability. According to the draft Resolution, the package would include measures such as a temporary reduction in the VAT rate on electricity and heating, the introduction of a temporary electricity price cap, targeted direct payments for socially vulnerable groups, as well as measures to alleviate energy costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Andrei Korobeinik from the Centre Party Group took the floor during the debate.

At the final vote, six members of the Riigikogu supported the draft Resolution. The draft Resolution was dropped from the legislative proceedings. 

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
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Questions: [email protected]