Penny and the Berchtesgadener Land dairy are working together so that farmers can renovate their farms to improve energy efficiency.
The kick-off event took place in Königsdorf.
Königsdorf
- First Bernhard Pointner, managing director of the Berchtesgadener Land dairy, thought of a fun call from some radio station. A food retailer actually claimed to want to do something for the farmers. "When I think of the ego trips of the two big discounters, it could only be a joke," he says. But the caller was serious: Penny, with its 2,200 branches across Germany, wants to promote sustainability in agriculture. "That is also one of our central guiding values," says Pointner. "It was clear that we would cooperate."
"Zukunftsbauer" is the name of the sponsorship program run by Penny and the Pidingern.
The kick-off event was on Thursday at Franz-Xaver Demmel's in Schönrain / Königsdorf, who runs his Huabahof in such a way that it can serve as a role model for the future.
Here it also became clear how the funding is going: From October 25th, the company will forego part of the profit margin when selling all “Berchtesgadener Land” milk products.
The dairy doubles the amount.
This is how a fund comes into being, with which farmers are supported who want to renovate their farms energetically.
The maximum funding amount is 10,000 euros.
This is how farmer support works
Around ten percent of the 1,800 cooperative operations of the Berchtesgadener Land dairy are located in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district.
The funding pot is limited, so you shouldn't hesitate to apply.
Subsequent submission of investments that have already been made is not possible.
And: The funding is independent of government funding.
Step 1: Online information event
Applicants can find out details about the funding program here.
The online events start next week.
Step 2: Knowledge
workshop In the “Energy efficiency in agriculture” workshop, the dairy demonstrates ways in which companies can be optimized in terms of energy technology.
3rd step: practical trip
Applicants have the opportunity to visit sample companies that have implemented energy-saving measures in an exemplary manner.
4th step: Energy check
consultants analyze the energy guzzlers on site and point out possibilities for improvement.
Step 5: Funding application
If you have decided on two measures, fill out the form and submit a binding cost estimate to the agricultural department.
Step 6: Approval
Experts evaluate the application.
50 percent of the investment amount, up to a maximum of 10,000 euros, will be paid out before implementation.
7th step: Construction
After completion of the measure, the invoice for the documentation must be submitted.
At the kick-off event in Königsdorf, Stefan Magel, Rewe and Penny's Board Member for Retail, acknowledged the responsibility that the food retail trade has for future generations.
"Sustainability is firmly anchored in our corporate strategy." Politicians and consumers are demanding more and more vehemently, and that is the right thing to do.
That is why Penny is also striving to be climate neutral by 2040.
As for the relationship between trade and agriculture, he said: “In the last few months, given the many demos, one could get the impression that one is irreconcilable towards one another.” Sure, there are conflicts of interest.
"But it depends on going the way of cooperation and staying fair."
Philipp Stiehler, General Manager Goods at Penny, saw it that way.
The company was founded in the same year in which the Pidinger dairy switched to organic - 1973. "That is a good prerequisite for a partnership." The farmers don't need anyone to teach them about sustainability.
"But what they need is financial support and educational work." He quoted a saying that sounds flippant, but contains a truth.
It reads: "Without the cow guild there is no future."
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At the Huabahof in Schönrain, you can already see where agriculture could ideally develop.
Franz-Xaver Demmel, together with his wife Gerlinde and son Xaver, is one of 1,800 farmers who supply the Pidinger dairy.
Demmel sees itself as a problem solver.
“There are few areas where you can do as much for ecology as agriculture,” he explained to the many (specialist) journalists on site.
It not only produces food, but above all energy, with the help of the large photovoltaic system on the roof.
The yield: 300,000 kilowatts per year.
That is far more than it consumes, including for the largely electric vehicle fleet.
It ranges from self-propelled mixer feeders to two farm loaders to electric cars.
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The visitors from all over Germany were amazed at the model company.
Nobody had seen anything like it before.
The Huabahof is an organic farm that nonetheless relies fully on digitization.
“That is not a contradiction in terms,” said Demmel during a tour of the farm.
On the contrary.
It helps to concentrate even more on the animals and their welfare.
And that is what matters in agriculture.
Now and in the future.