Federal program to promote the restructuring of animal husbandry begins
The federal program with which the federal government wants to support the further development of animal husbandry in Germany will be published today in the Federal Gazette. The investment support will come into force on March 1, 2024. From then on, agricultural businesses will have the opportunity to apply for financial support to convert their stables to animal-friendly conditions.
Applications for funding for ongoing additional costs are possible from April 1st. One billion euros is available from the federal budget to start the restructuring of pig farming. The aim of the federal program is to make animal husbandry in Germany future-proof. Future-proof means animal husbandry that offers farmers reliable and economically viable prospects and is at the same time animal-friendly and climate-friendly.
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir explains: "There are politicians who currently like to post pictures of Nuremberg sausages. We care about those who produce the meat for them and about the conditions in which the animals are kept. We want to make animal husbandry future-proof and are starting to do so now another central component, our federal program to promote the conversion of animal husbandry. With this program we support farmers who are on the way to animal and environmentally friendly husbandry. Because better animal husbandry costs money. In addition to investments in stable conversion, we support for the first time, the ongoing additional costs for greater animal welfare. The Borchert Commission has also called for the reliable expansion of state funding for ongoing additional costs. There is still a lot more to do to ensure that animal husbandry is crisis-proof and future-proof. I am committed to this with all my strength ."
