By Edvardas Kubilius, LRT RADIO, LRT.lt.

Farmers in Lithuania have begun advertising wheat for heating purposes on social media. Some point out that grain prices have dropped so low that it now makes more sense to burn wheat than to use it for food.

Heating with wheat cheaper than firewood

Naturalist Mindaugas Ryla shared a Facebook post from a farmer offering wheat for burning. According to the advert, heating with wheat is more cost-effective than using pellets or firewood, with wheat priced at around €140 per tonne, compared to €260 for pellets.

Ryla told LRT Radio that while people are free to do what they like with their produce, the issue is more complex because wheat growing is subsidised by the European Union. Selling EU-funded crops as heating fuel, he argues, is ethically questionable, since taxpayers ultimately foot the bill.

“When you think about it, it just doesn’t seem right,” said Ryla. “It gives the impression that we’ve got a grain surplus. Maybe it’s marketing, the farmer just wants attention – but the advert sounds drastic.”

Ryla said the problem is that EU taxpayers are funding grain production to make food cheaper, yet the end product is being used for something entirely different.

Read more: LRT.LT