What does the traffic light do with the “agricultural peace”?
Two young Wagyu oxen on the Holtmann farm on a pasture. Photo: Guido Kirchner / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
When it comes to food, consumer advocates are counting on the coalition’s future ambition for change. But it is also about the future of the farmers.
If the SPD, FDP and the Greens move forward in their negotiations for a traffic light coalition, a change is certain in a long-contested field.
After 16 years in a row with ministers of the Union, agriculture and food are going into new hands in the future federal government. But what does this bring for the farmers who are under cost pressure and diverse expectations for more animal and nature protection? And what for millions of supermarket customers about prices, packaging and a healthier diet? Consumer advocates and medical professionals are calling for a clear change in direction.
“Our food must be healthier and more sustainable,” said the head of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv), Klaus Müller, of the German press agency. “Agriculture is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, and unhealthy food costs billions of dollars to the health system every year.” A traffic light coalition should therefore initiate a “real food turnaround”. Specifically, the value added tax on fruit and vegetables should be further reduced. What is needed are stricter rules for food marketing to children and a more ambitious strategy for less sugar, salt and fat.
The German Obesity Society just gave the negotiators a way to make “the healthy choice an easy choice at last”. Among other things, the nutritional value logo Nutri-Score should become binding throughout the EU. So far, providers in Germany have been able to voluntarily use color coding to help them buy healthier products. The traffic light parties have only announced one consumer project in advance: a label for meat husbandry.
In addition to new rules, it is also about practical changes in the chain from farmers to processors to retailers. And the debate is no longer completely at zero. After decades of disputes, a kind of agrarian peace came about shortly before the federal elections – in a commission that had been set up by the cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). It included representatives from the food industry and farmers, nature and consumer protectionists, trade and science.
Those involved now want to build on this broad consensus. In an unusual alliance, agricultural and environmental associations drummed up at the traffic light soundings to implement the unified proposals of the commission. They envisage a far-reaching restructuring of the agricultural and food system as a “task for society as a whole”, combined with investments of billions: for example, for more organic farming, foregoing pesticides, for better stables.
“No federal government will be able to fall behind the results,” predicted the still incumbent minister Julia Klöckner (CDU). And they basically meant: “Higher standards, yes, but they cost more money. And these additional costs cannot be borne by the farmers alone. ” The endurance test for it is now on. Financing models are on the table, such as an animal welfare tax or a VAT increase for animal products. Another commission suggests that 40 cents more per kilo of meat would be conceivable.
For the time being, the SPD, FDP and the Greens generally announced that they would support farmers in “embarking on a sustainable, environmentally and nature-friendly path”. At the same time, however, the aim is to secure them “a long-term, adequate income”. Another point is the restriction of plant protection products to “the necessary amount”.
Consumer advocate Müller emphasized that animal welfare labeling for meat from better husbandry and state subsidies are important, but are not enough. “The traffic light must ensure that only animal owners who ensure measurably more animal welfare receive support.” This would be possible, for example, by coupling the payments to an in-house monitoring of animal health.
Farmer President Joachim Rukwied called for the red-yellow-green explorations: “It is crucial to strike a balance between economy and ecology.” The farmers also called for a conversion of the animal husbandry, but the financing had to be secured. Because the changes are “tasks for society as a whole” and cannot be borne by the farms alone. For more environmental protection, cooperation must have priority.
The SPD, FDP and the Greens also have to clarify how the ministry will proceed: will a separate department remain for the industry, or will the new government with climate protection as a guiding principle reorganize itself more vigorously?