Agricultural Action Plan by 2030: EU countries want 25 percent organic cultivation


Status: 07/19/2021 8:21 p.m.

The EU agriculture ministers have agreed to use at least 25 percent of the EU’s agricultural land for organic farming by 2030. Because the resolutions go beyond national goals, the federal government now has to make improvements.

The agricultural economy of the future should become greener and more animal-friendly: The EU countries want to significantly promote the expansion of organic agriculture. The responsible ministries agreed on an action plan that provides that a quarter of the agricultural area in the EU should be used for organic farming by 2030.

The EU Commission had already proposed the plan in the spring, and the EU countries have now officially welcomed it. In the evening, the states also wanted to exchange ideas about three initiatives for more animal welfare. Among other things, it was about cage farming, turkey fattening and the so-called chick shredding.

More organic products in daycare centers and hospitals

For the Federal Republic of Germany, the decisions on organic agriculture mean that the national goals must be improved again. The declared goal of the federal government by 2030 has so far been that 20 percent of the agricultural area is cultivated according to organic standards.

State Secretary Beate Kasch, who represented Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner at the ministerial meeting, said she saw great potential in areas such as daycare centers, schools and hospitals. More organic products could be used there. According to the latest figures from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the proportion of organic agriculture – measured in terms of area – was 10.3 percent last year and 9.7 percent at the end of 2019.

Discussion on the EU-wide ban on the killing of chicks

There are currently major differences in the proportion of organic agricultural land in the EU countries. According to Minister Elisabeth Köstinger, Austria has already exceeded the specified target with a share of 26 percent. According to data from the statistics agency Eurostat, Malta (0.5 percent) is at the bottom of the list, followed by Ireland (1.6) and Bulgaria (2.3).

In the evening, a joint initiative by France and Germany should also be discussed, which provides for an EU-wide ban on the killing of male chicks. Both countries call on the EU Commission to initiate this.

Possible ban on cage farming

Chick shredding kills more than 40 million male chicks every year after they hatch. Reason: The breeds bred as laying hens hardly put on meat and are unsuitable for fattening. The initiative is unlikely to change much for German companies: the killing of male chicks in the millions will be banned in Germany from the beginning of next year. There should also be improvements in turkey fattening. So far, there has been a lack of specific minimum requirements in this area.

In addition, the Federal Republic of Germany supports an initiative by the Commission to present a proposal to ban cage farming in 2023. The rules could then come into force by 2027. The Commission took action after a successful citizens’ initiative. According to this, more than 8.2 million animals live in cages in Germany, which corresponds to 14 percent of farm animals.



Source link