Bioland is becoming a climate pioneer
As of today, the agricultural and food sector is one of the drivers of the climate crisis: globally, agriculture causes around 25 percent of total emissions. This shows how great the leverage is if this part of the economy is converted to be climate-friendly. Organic farming per se avoids emissions because it works in cycles, does not use energy-intensive mineral nitrogen fertilizers and has lower animal populations. The Bioland climate strategy now makes the achievements of the Bioland farms visible and at the same time shows the way to even more climate protection. The strategy was recently adopted at the Bioland delegate meeting.
“The expansion of organic farming as a climate protection measure plays a key role in the federal government’s strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is also why the 30 percent target is being maintained, as Agriculture Minister Özdemir recently emphasized again with the organic strategy. And that’s no coincidence: working close to nature and conserving resources in cycles is the cornerstone of organic farming,” says Bioland President Jan Plagge.
Calculation method developed for climate performance of organic farms
“The Bioland climate strategy makes the achievements of our companies visible and defines areas of action in which we can also make improvements. We want to show that climate protection is not just lip service for us and certainly not greenwashing, but rather deeply rooted in practice on the farms and in the production facilities.”
The core of the Bioland climate strategy is a specially developed monitoring system that records key climate figures and carbon footprints of the companies. On this basis, climate performance can be measured and compared. Some of the data comes from the annual organic control reports - so they do not need to be collected additionally. The system benefits Bioland members and partners in several ways, as Plagge explains: “On the one hand, based on the data collected, we derive measures for further improved climate protection on the farms - we support this with additional consulting services. On the other hand, many Bioland members and partners need this data for their own sustainability reporting anyway. There is no additional effort for them, but there is a significant increase in profit.”
30 percent organic by 2030 saves 34 million tons of CO2 by 2050
The new Bioland advisory services aim to implement additional potential for reducing emissions and binding CO2 on farms through the development of practical climate measures. This is conducive to the association's goals, which are also defined in the strategy. The switch to organic farming alone already brings about a reduction in emissions: If the 30 percent organic target is achieved by 2030, 2021 million tons of CO2050 equivalents would be avoided in the period 34 to 2 - this is the result of an organic farming study based on the projection report from the Federal Environment Agency. Invoice. Additional measures are intended to temporarily reduce the share of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from organic farms by a further 2040 percent by 15.
“The most important thing now is that we create a solid data basis with our climate monitoring over the next few years,” explains Bioland speaker Lisa Ketzer, who played a key role in developing the Bioland climate strategy. “Derivations can then be drawn from these results: Where is there still unused potential? Where do our companies need further support? Where can we further sharpen our own climate goals? And above all: How can future climate protection achievements be valued? We will ask ourselves these questions again and again and thus develop the strategy step by step in practice.”
To the Bioland Association
Bioland is the most important association for organic farming in Germany and South Tyrol. Around 10.000 companies from production, manufacturing and trading operate according to the Bioland guidelines. Together they form a community of values for the benefit of people and the environment.
