The transformation of animal husbandry is gaining momentum
The restructuring of animal husbandry in Germany is gaining momentum. The newly launched federal funding program is already in high demand from farmers shortly after its launch. Applications with a funding volume of almost 12,7 million euros (as of March 14.3.2024, 26,5) were received in the first few days. Including the companies' own contribution, the total volume is already almost XNUMX million euros.
The number of pig-keeping farms across Germany almost halved between 2010 and 2020 (from around 60.000 to 32.000 farms) - while the number of animals remained the same. Small farms in particular gave up during this time. With the federal program to convert animal husbandry, the federal government wants to give companies that are under severe pressure an economic perspective.
The majority of applications so far have come from companies in southern Germany. Animal husbandry there is organized on a particularly small scale. In Bavaria, the rate of operational closures in the same period was 54 percent, even higher than the national average. 7 applications have already been submitted from Baden-Württemberg and 5 from Bavaria. 5 animal owners have already applied for funding from Lower Saxony and from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir explains:
"With the federal program, we are taking a further step out of the crisis that animal husbandry in Germany has been in for many years. Instead of just talking about the sausage and not taking action, we are supporting our farmers in future-proof animal husbandry and making theirs Efforts for more animal protection are visible and give them an economic perspective. I want good meat from Germany to be on the table tomorrow too.
The fact that applications for investments worth millions were received shortly after the start of the program shows, despite the prophecies of doom from the south, that we are starting in the right place. I am particularly pleased for my colleague Michaela Kaniber and my colleague Peter Hauk that the first applications are coming from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
I was able to mobilize a total of one billion euros for the further development of pig farming, more than any other government before for future-proof animal husbandry. But that can only be the beginning. When it comes to the change in animal husbandry, we are talking about high investments, so reliable long-term support is needed. Greater animal welfare costs money - and farmers cannot bear this bill alone. My proposal for long-term financing is on the table. Anyone who rejects it should then make another one that can be implemented instead of always just saying no.
The protests of the past few weeks have brought attention to agriculture and thus a window of opportunity to initiate changes towards sustainable agriculture. This is only possible with a broad political majority and together with our farmers."
According to the government's draft budget for 2024 with financial planning until 2027, a total of 875 million euros have been earmarked for the restructuring of animal husbandry in the federal budget. (2024: 150 million euros, 2025: 200 million euros, 2026: 300 million euros. 2027: 225 million euros). In order to ensure planning security for companies, a further 125 million euros are planned in the form of commitment appropriations in the 2024 budget for the years 2028 to 2033. On the one hand, the federal program subsidizes new animal-friendly stable construction and stable conversions (access to outdoor climate or exercise) (investment funding). On the other hand, the ongoing additional costs for more animal-friendly husbandry, such as straw bedding or activity materials, which are associated with particularly animal-friendly husbandry of pigs, are partially offset. This part of the funding can be applied for from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food from April. The program stipulates that such support can be granted to all companies, including those companies that already operate in a much more animal-friendly manner ("existing companies"). Applications for stable conversion can be made via the Website of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food are provided.
Hintergrund:
In order to make animal husbandry in Germany future-proof, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is pursuing a concept consisting of several independent components, including: a binding animal husbandry label, the reliable promotion of a particularly animal-friendly management system through a federal program, changes in building and approval law and improvements in animal protection law. As part of a federal program to promote the conversion of agricultural animal husbandry, the aim is to support precisely those companies that are setting out to convert their stables to a particularly animal-friendly and environmentally friendly system. To provide a boost, one billion euros is available in the federal budget for the restructuring of pig farming. This means that the BMEL is providing more funds for the future-proof conversion of animal husbandry than any previous federal government. Due to the acute challenges in pig farming, the federal program will initially focus on this area. Investment support for new buildings and conversions that are particularly animal-friendly and support for ongoing additional costs that can arise from particularly animal-friendly farming methods form the main pillars of the program.
