What would happen if Germans consumed less meat and dairy products? Does that immediately solve a whole heap of problems and grievances? At least it would be possible.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, an average of more than two million animals are slaughtered in Germany every day. 1.7 million chickens, 151,000 pigs, 94,000 turkeys. There are also 4.3 million dairy cows in the barn. Most of these “farm animals” are bred for high performance, their muscles grow quickly, they give a lot of milk or lay a lot of eggs. They need large amounts of concentrated feed. 58 percent of the entire harvest in Germany ends up directly in the feeding troughs. EU-wide it is 70 percent. There are also feed imports, for example from South America.
If fewer animals were kept here, less forage would be needed, which is produced with fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, more space for moors, fallow land or floodplains. More organic farming. This helps biodiversity because wildlife populations can recover. And it helps protect the climate because natural CO₂ sinks form and because the production of fertilizers produces a lot of greenhouse gases. Currently, one could also make a contribution against impending famine in Africa or the Middle East: grain for people instead of livestock.
From a global perspective, however, such measures are only useful if the demand for meat and dairy products falls, otherwise production will migrate abroad. The draft of the immediate climate protection program 2022 that has just been drawn up states: “It is the aim of the federal government to promote sustainable and low-meat diets.” But how?
Greenpeace, for example, is calling for the VAT on meat and dairy products to be increased from seven to 19 percent and for plant products to be reduced. A Catholic religion teacher at a Munich high school has considered a different, somewhat harsh method. He shows the teenagers in class documentaries about animal husbandry and from the slaughterhouses. Many young people came home pale and announced that they would never eat meat again. Perhaps it would be better to force adults to watch it? Achim Spiller, Professor of Marketing for Food and Agricultural Products at the University of Göttingen, has conducted a study on this. It revealed that the majority of people react negatively even to pictures of legally compliant pig or poultry houses.
The number of vegetarians and vegans has risen sharply recently, and the per capita consumption of meat in Germany is slowly declining. This affects almost exclusively the pork, which is why the breeders are under enormous pressure. In the past ten years, more than 12,000 breeders have closed their operations, down 39 percent. The number of pigs kept fell by almost 14 percent. The price of pork is currently falling again because supply is exceeding demand, according to the association of producer groups. But is that enough for a broad change in agriculture, towards more animal welfare, more environmental protection, less meat?
The industry is now hoping for the barbecue season.
(This text is from the weekly Newsletter climate friday you here for free can order.)