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Pigs in a conventional fattening farm: »Germany says goodbye to self-sufficiency«
Photo:
Marius Schwarz / IMAGO
The Meat Industry Association (VDF) has protested against plans by the federal government to convert animal husbandry to higher standards.
The actions of Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) are driving German farmers out of animal husbandry, said VDF board member Gereon Schulze Althoff on Monday.
Structural change is being accelerated and pig farming structures are being destroyed.
"
Germany says goodbye to self-supply with food ,
"
said Schulze Althoff.
The VDF was particularly critical of the planned upper limit for the promotion of up to 3,000 fattening pigs sold per year.
This means that most pig farms would in fact get nothing.
Other points such as the approval of meat from abroad that does not have to be labeled also endanger the future of meat production in Germany.
The industry wants to improve animal husbandry, but the planned regulations are no help and threaten their future, said the head of the association.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture recently presented the cornerstones of the funding program.
First, pig farmers should be able to get money.
Companies with standards that are well above the mandatory legal requirements should benefit.
Funding should be given to
"
animal-friendly and environmentally friendly
"
new buildings and conversions of stables as well as ongoing additional costs for better husbandry.
The traffic light coalition wants to provide one billion euros as start-up financing by 2026.
The money should be
“
a first step
”
for a package to convert animal husbandry.
Farmers don't see the bill coming up
Before the meat industry, the farmers' association had already criticized the funding plans.
»
This is not a program to secure the future of Germany as a business location.
But this is a program that amounts to a reduction,
"
said Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied of the dpa.
The clear message from the farmers' association is:
"
Yes to more animal welfare.
That's what pet owners want to do.
They can't do it with just what's on the table.
«
Özdemir told the Funke media group that the aim is for fewer animals to be kept better and for farmers to be rewarded by the state.
There is a broad social majority for this.
"Not a single company is obliged to convert its stables, reduce the number of animals or keep pigs in a more animal-friendly manner," said the Green politician.
»But those who rely on better and sustainable animal husbandry and thus make a contribution to climate and environmental protection will receive reliable and sufficient financial support from the state in the future.«
Farmer President Rukwied, on the other hand, complained that the subsidy policy contradicted economic reality.
If you want to operate pig fattening in an economically sensible way, you need around 1,500 berths to be able to finance one employee, he calculated.
»With around 2.7 fattening cycles per year, you then have more than 4000 pigs produced.
What I need from a business point of view would be ruled out," he said, referring to the planned upper limit of 3,000 animals.
Animal rights activists have also criticized the draft
The animal protection association Pro Vieh, on the other hand, had criticized that the draft did not go far enough and threatened to miss opportunities.
Criteria that are important for the welfare of the pigs, such as straw and natural soil or sufficient exercise and rooting material, were also left out in the higher forms of husbandry.
sol/dpa
