Protests by farmers have erupted across twelve European Union countries, which account for over half of the region's meat production and about 40% of its grain. The demonstrations, which began in the Netherlands in 2019 due to government plans to reduce nitrogen emissions, have been fueled by issues such as cheap imports, rising fuel and fertilizer costs, falling farm product prices, and overregulation of the agricultural sector. These countries are significant contributors to Europe's food production, producing nearly half of all food in 2022, including a substantial portion of the world's olives, grapes, and sugar beets.