On the occasion of the German Farmers' Day on 28/29 June in Münster, the German Animal Welfare Federation criticizes the blockade attitude of the FDP and the German Farmers' Association (DBV) regarding the necessary restructuring of agricultural animal husbandry. While the FDP is politically thwarting any progress, the German Farmers' Association is playing the "food security" card and thus undermining the joint consensus of the Commission on the Future of Agriculture.
"When it comes to the transformation of agriculture, the traffic light coalition is falling short of its promises in the coalition agreement: it has neither created more animal welfare in recent months nor is there any planning security for farmers," said Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation. He particularly criticized the lack of a consistent overall strategy: "What should socially accepted animal husbandry look like in 20 years? The government should first formulate this goal and then align all instruments with it," said Schröder. This also includes the funding policy, for which the Commission for the Future of Agriculture and the so-called Borchert Commission have presented suitable approaches. At the latest, the dependencies and global crises that have become apparent as a result of the Russian war of aggression have made it clear that the transformation of agriculture must come faster than originally thought. "This requires government start-up funding; one billion euros will not be enough. It is irritating that the Grünen are not stepping up the pace, but - together with the SPD - are allowing themselves to be blocked by the FDP," says Schröder.
DBV WITHOUT A CLEAR VISION FOR SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
The Future Commission for Agriculture unanimously agreed that sustainable animal husbandry in Germany with more animal welfare and climate protection can only succeed if fewer animal products are consumed and produced. As a member of the Future Commission, the DBV had also committed itself to this common goal. "Today, there is no longer any sign of this spirit. The farmers' association wants to use the momentum of the war to call for food security and thus fend off any changes. A tragic historical mistake," says Schröder. Because the first draft of the new Animal Welfare Act made it clear that economic interests must not take precedence over animal welfare, DBV Secretary General Krüsken even conjured up the end of agricultural animal husbandry. He apparently succeeded in having the passage deleted, although it merely formulated what has been the law since the Federal Administrative Court's ruling on chick culling in 2019 at the latest. "In panic and blackmail mode, it may be possible to maintain the inadequate status quo, but under no circumstances can we help shape the socially demanded and urgently needed modernization of agriculture," says Schröder, criticizing the current actions of the farmers' association.
CAMPAIGN "MORE ANIMAL WELFARE NOW!"
With its current campaign "Now more animal welfare!", the German Animal Welfare Federation provides information on which announcements from the coalition agreement have already been addressed by the coalition government and where there are only empty promises so far: www.jetzt-mehr-tierschutz.de
