Joint appeal: farmers and environmentalists want to change course

In the middle of the exploratory talks, ten agricultural and environmental associations are calling for the new government to change economic and ecological course in Germany. To do this, they want to pull together.

More animal protection, more diversity, less mass production – but more quality and sustainability: This is how agriculture in the Federal Republic should position itself in the future, as ten agricultural and environmental associations are calling for. With a joint appeal, they have now joined the explorations for a government coalition.

The Vice President of the German Farmers’ Association, Werner Schwarz, said that the new federal government would have to work towards introducing these requirements in the coming legislature. That will “not be immediately implementable,” said Schwarz. But it is important to initiate this in good time so that farmers and society can see “that something is moving there and that we want to move forward”.

Farmers’ Association speaks of a revolution

The farmers’ association speaks of an ecological and economic revolution. Never before has there been such a clear appeal formulated together with environmental associations for a change in agricultural policy. The signatories include the German Agricultural Society, the German Rural Youth, the Nature Conservation Association and the Animal Welfare Association.

The Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) has also joined. Only the common path will lead to mastering the challenges, said Myriam Rapior from the youth organization BUNDjugend.

Report of the future commission is to be implemented

The common appeal has a background: the “Agriculture Future Commission” presented its final report at the end of June – a committee made up of scientists and agricultural and environmental associations set up by the German government. The commission spoke out in favor of fundamental changes – for example to save smaller farms and support the socially disadvantaged in the face of increasingly expensive food.

This report must now be taken up in the exploratory talks and later implemented in its entirety, demand the agricultural and environmental associations.

Foodwatch criticizes proposals as inadequate

“We had no other chance – to make things move,” says the head of the farmers’ association, Schwarz. “When we talk about animal husbandry, we want to pay attention to how consumer behavior will be in the future and then align our animal husbandry accordingly.”

Criticism came from the consumer advocates of Foodwatch. The proposals are inadequate, especially when it comes to climate and animal protection.