Germany: Breeders’ association is urgently seeking funding for the restructuring of the industry

The Farmers’ Union demands clarity on the secured funding for the planned conversion to stables in order to better protect the animals. “If we really want to further develop animal welfare, we have to take this step,” Joachim Rukwied, president of the Farmers’ Union, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

“We need state co-financing and investment support. But we also need an extra price on the store counter. We have to do both.” Funding must now be set in motion, Rukwied said. “That is where the coalition’s duty.”

The SPD, the Greens and the FDP have been discussing funding for weeks to ensure farmers do not have to bear the costs of barn conversions and additional costs themselves. According to the recommendations of a committee of experts, a higher VAT rate or a “contribution to animal welfare” in animal products is being discussed.

An increase of 40 cents per kilo of meat would be conceivable. However, the FDP has recently made it clear that it rejects price increases for consumers due to high inflation.

Rukwied said: “If we want to keep livestock farming in Germany more prosperous, as society demands, then public funding is needed. Otherwise the conversion will not succeed and the livestock will migrate abroad.”

The € 1 billion now earmarked in the federal budget is a start. “Overall, it’s not enough.”

Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir promises proposals on Tuesday

The funding system is part of a planned mandatory animal labeling system agreed in the coalition agreement. Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir (Greens) wants to present its key points next Tuesday.

The label is to be introduced before the end of the year. It should start with pork.

Rukwied said: “It is also important to integrate existing successful systems, such as the Animal Welfare Initiative, and build on what we already have in terms of state farm labeling.” Through the initiative, which is supported by agriculture, the meat industry and trade, participating farmers receive price premiums for additional animal welfare requirements. The big supermarket chains have already started a single labeling system for meat and sausages in 2019 with the label “Haltungsform” (breeding system), which has four levels.

Rukwied told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that the policy should show perspective, especially in the troubled pig sector, which is “in the biggest crisis of decades”. The fall in pig prices was offset by rising feed and energy costs.

“If we want to maintain and improve pig farming in Germany, the federal government has to start it this year. Every month lost again means a lot of closed pig farms.”

At the same time, the farmers’ union is pushing for the origin to be identified. If the decision at EU level is expected by the end of the year, one could wait. “But if that does not happen, we have to introduce a national labeling system for breeding and origin,” Rukwied told dpa.

Consumers need to be able to see where the products are coming from. “This is part of transparency. How else are people supposed to be able to specifically select domestic regional goods?”