Farming

Germany, the country of engineering ingenuity and industry, has always at the same time remained a country with a strong agricultural sector. Despite a high population density, half of the national territory is put to agricultural use. Around a million people produce goods worth around 50 billion Euro a year in approx. 270,000 agricultural enterprises. Farmers provide us with high-quality foodstuffs. They are also providing a growing contribution to energy and raw materials supplies. They shape and maintain the face of our country.

Germany's agricultural sector is among the four largest producers in the European Union. In order to feed the more than 200 million farm animals, around 50 percent of farmland is made up of grassland and arable land that is used for feeding purposes. For human consumption, the main production areas of the farming sector include, besides animal products, bread cereals, potatoes, sugar beet, oilseeds, fruit and vegetables. In addition, there are grassland and crop areas dedicated to the production of bioenergy and bio-resources.

Overview of topics

Plant production

Plant production is at the beginning of the agricultural value chain. The regulations on good agricultural practice make an important contribution to ensuring sustainable production. Plant production in Germany is diverse, ranging from arable farming, horticulture and fruit growing to the cultivation of wine and hops.

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EU agricultural policy + support

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been one of the most important areas of European policy since the unification of Europe.

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Organic farming

Organic farming is a particularly resource-conserving and environmentally friendly farming system based on the principle of sustainability. With a turnover of 15.87 billion euro in the year 2021, Germany remains the largest market for organic food in Europe.

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Climate stewardship

Germany aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent at least by 2030. The Federal Government has initiated a Climate Change Act for this purpose. The Act aims at a reduction of annual emissions in the agricultural sector of from 11 to 14 million tons CO² equivalents by 2030 compared with the levels of 2014. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has developed a package of measures designed to ensure that this target is achieved.

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Species diversity

The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and the food industry form the basis of life for us and for future generations.

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Social policy in agriculture

Agricultural social security policy is a creative, target-oriented policy for the benefit of active farmers and their families which helps to establish the conditions for developing an efficient and competitive agricultural sector.

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Bioeconomy and renewable resources

Bioeconomy is considered as one of the most important future fields for sustainable economic activity. The BMEL is promoting the transition in industry and society toward a sustainable and bio-based economy. The industrial use of renewable resources is gathering speed around the world and in Germany in particular and is tapping into new markets.

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Green professions

The 14 "green professions" are versatile, technically demanding and nature-related professions in the agricultural and food sector: working with people, animals and plants, producing food such as milk, wine, honey or meat, operating state-of-the-art digitally supported technology, using laboratory know-how to ensure the quality of agricultural products or protecting our forests - the "green professions" offer a wide range of professional activities to choose from.

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Publications

All publications

Recommendations

Bioeconomy at a glance (topic:bioeconomy)

The term ‘bioeconomy’ or ‘bio-based economy’ refers to more sustainable business practices in all sectors in which biogenic resources are treated, processed or marketed, including related services, e.g. in the consultancy, trade or restaurant and catering sectors.

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The BMEL’s “Sustainable Renewable Resources” funding programme (topic:bioeconomy)

The “Sustainable Renewable Resources” funding programme forms the foundation for the support provided by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in the area of sustainable renewable resources and in particular sustainable raw materials.

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National activities for biological diversity (topic:species-diversity)

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) advocates improved measures to protect biodiversity and structural diversity in agricultural landscapes and forests. The BMEL therefore developed a package of policy measures.

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Agriculture, climate change mitigation and climate resilience (topic:climate-stewardship)

The climate crisis is the greatest threat to agriculture, because protecting the climate, soils, water and biodiversity will determine whether we can continue to ensure our food supplies tomorrow. Climate change mitigation and increased climate resilience – i.e. resilience to the consequences of the climate crisis – are therefore the cornerstones of a forward-looking agricultural policy.

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 Biodiversity: Protecting bees and insects (topic:species-diversity)

The biodiversity crisis, i.e. the rapid loss of natural and anthropogenic (agro-biodiversity) biological diversity is one of the major global crises of our time. Conserving and promoting biodiversity is key to sustainable and future-proof food production.

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GENRES: Information System on Genetic Resources (topic:species-diversity)

The GENRES information platform provides a quick overview of relevant news, specialist information, documents, projects, online databases, actors and other measures for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the agricultural and food sectors. A newsletter gives information on current developments in this field on a quarterly basis.

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Agricultural health insurance (topic:social-policy-in-agriculture)

The Social Insurance Fund for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG) implements the farmers' health insurance. It has been in place since 1972 for entrepreneurs in the agricultural, forestry and horticultural sectors and their families. The  Second Act on Farmers’ Health Insurance (KVLG 1989) provides the legal basis for this.

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Certified sustainable palm oil in Germany – Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (topic:sustainability)

The aim is for all palm oil used in Germany to be from sustainable production. This is the express aim of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The successful work carried out by the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (FONAP), which is supported by the BMEL, was commended at the forum's annual general meeting on 27 April 2023. Parliamentary State Secretary Ms Müller emphasised in her speech to the AGM what challenges the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products holds and how important the role of FONAP is for its implementation.

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Publications of the Advisory Board on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (topic:agriculture)

The Advisory Board is an interdisciplinary body which is to assist in further developing consumer policies. The independent body works in an honorary capacity and draws up scientific opinions and statements.

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Digitalisation in agriculture (topic:digitalisation)

The biggest gains from digitalisation in agriculture are expected to come from potentially making productivity more sustainable and from reductions in working hours and workload. This will result in reductions in the use of fertilisers, plant protection products and energy and improvements in animal welfare.

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