Cem Özdemir pushes for faster expansion of organic food market in Germany
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir wants to kickstart the growth of the organic food market in Germany at a rapid pace. The Green politician declared this in Berlin on Thursday, highlighting the potential benefits for the entire food industry.
The ministry's new strategy includes various initiatives to fuel this growth. These measures include investing in research to boost organic farming yields, enlightening consumers about the environmental and animal protection advantages of organic production, and increasing the availability of organic options in cafeterias and restaurants.
The traffic light coalition aims to increase organic farming's share of the total agricultural area to 30% by 2030. As of late 2022, the proportion of organically farmed fields and meadows had marginally increased, reaching 11.2%. Organic farming currently covers 14.2% of total farms.
Cem Özdemir's strategy to boost the organic food market involves not only cultivating consumer understanding about the environmental and animal protection benefits that stem from organic food production but also amplifying the availability of organic options in school cafeterias and restaurants, potentially inspiring more individuals to switch to organic food.
The German government, notably Cem Özdemir, could employ different strategies to achieve this 30% organic farming goal by 2030.
- Investing in Research: Enhance research projects, such as the KarOLa project, which focuses on breeding new potato varieties with disease resistance and heat and drought tolerance. This strategy can be extended to other crops, thereby bolstering organic farming's resilience in various environmental conditions.
- Consumer Education: Launch awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the merits of organic food, including its environmental sustainability, climate protection, and biodiversity advantages. Clear labeling and certification processes should be ensured to build trust and confidence in organic products.
- Promoting Organic Options: Implement programs to promote organic food options in schools and workplaces, and offer incentives to restaurants and canteens that do the same. These initiatives could encourage more establishments to switch to organic products.
- Policy Support: Advocate for policy interventions to support the transition to organic farming, including subsidies for converting farmers, tax breaks for organic producers, and regulatory support. Support EU agricultural reforms aimed at enhancing climate and species protection.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborate with international organizations like the FAO and engage with stakeholders across the value chain to pool knowledge and share best practices. This fosters a supportive ecosystem for organic farming, ensuring alignment among all parties.
By implementing these strategies, Minister Cem Özdemir can effectively expand the organic food market and work towards achieving a 30% organic farming proportion by 2030.
