Wednesday 20th October 2021
Probing paper too slack
Greens disappoint organic farmers with a step backwards
On the subject of sustainable agriculture, of all things, the Greens cannot score in the explorations – at least that’s what organic farmers accuse them of. The proposals for the traffic light program therefore show ignorance and are less ambitious than the goals of the EU.
The largest association of German organic farmers takes the results of the negotiations with the Greens to court at the traffic light talks and sees them as a step backwards towards the EU’s agricultural goals. “What was written down in the exploratory paper on the areas of agriculture, nutrition and the environment basically falls behind what is already on the realpolitical agenda,” said Bioland President Jan Plagge of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”.
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“With these pre-determinations, the EU’s requirements will not be met by the new government,” said Plagge, whose association includes over 8500 organic farms. “We have an agenda at European level – from farm to table – that has very clear objectives, for example in the areas of plant protection and organic farming.” The statements by the SPD, the Greens and the FDP looked “completely unambitious in comparison,” criticized the Bioland boss. “Obviously, neither the Greens nor the SPD have yet dealt with a concrete agenda for the environment and agriculture.”
Plagge emphasized that the agricultural sector is ready for much more change if politics creates a framework for it. “That is why the exploratory paper is already such a big disappointment.” The Greens should actually make a special claim on the Ministry of Agriculture with their goals in the area of the environment, food and agriculture, he said. At the moment, however, it seems to be more the case that this department is not a priority for the Greens and none of the managers are interested in it.
Criticism of the twelve euro minimum wage
The General Secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, Bernhard Krüsken, was also disappointed with the results of negotiations between the possible coalition parties so far. “We need a clear economic perspective for the future as agriculture, without it it is not possible,” he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. This included necessary adjustments to building and environmental law in the area of animal husbandry. Krüsken also criticized the planned minimum wage of twelve euros. This brings a “massive burden for our farmers, especially in the field of fruit, vegetable and wine growing”.
Meanwhile, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) called for a clear move away from the use of pesticides in the upcoming coalition negotiations. The DUH criticized the fact that the SPD, Greens and FDP only agreed in the exploratory paper to limit pesticides to “the necessary level”. “The completely excessive use of pesticides in agriculture is a decisive reason for the fact that the death of insects, songbirds and other species continues”, explained Federal Managing Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner. “The much-invoked ‘necessary level’, which the previous federal governments wanted to adhere to, is completely indeterminate and has barely reduced pesticides,” he criticized. That must change with the next federal government.