Joint press release by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv)

More ecofriendliness in food sector necessary

International Green Week: The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) and UBA present joint recommendations for action

tomato in the dustbinClick to enlarge
Food in the dustbin
Source: Patryssia /Fotolia.com

The product life cycle analysis for foods is in a class of its own: fully one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are traceable to the food sector. Nitrogen surpluses from agriculture contaminate groundwater, while eleven million tonnes of food are discarded and wasted every year. The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) are now drawing attention to the environmental impact of foodstuffs and the effects on consumers. Ahead of the International Green Week the two organisations have introduced joint recommendations for action to combat the most urgent problems.

"The environment is already bearing the costs of the production and consumption of food. Consumers might have to absorb these costs in the long term. The time has come for action," said Holger Krawinkel, Head of Consumer Policy at vzbv. The vzbv and UBA are calling for reductions of nitrogen pollution, to promote organic farming and more environmentally friendly livestock farming, and for more responsible consumption of meat and avoiding food waste.

Thomas Holzmann, Acting President of UBA, says: "If we continue as we have done up to now, our national goal of a 20-per cent share for organic farming will not be achieved before 2078. The continued high levels of nitrogen surpluses from agriculture alone are proof that we cannot continue at this rate. The agriculture sector has many strategies available with which can be applied to make food production more environmentally sound, and this is exactly what we must support.“

Putting nitrogen on the agricultural policy agenda

Surplus nitrogen from agriculture is a threat to biodiversity and air quality, and it contaminates the groundwater from which we extract drinking water. The vzbv and UBA claim the nitrogen issue has been neglected in agricultural politics. They are advocating an ambitious revision of the Fertiliser Application Ordinance in the near future.

High levels of meat consumption are also responsible for emissions of nitrogen and other greenhouse gases. Germans each consumed an average of 60 kilogrammes of meat in 2012. For the sake of making livestock farming more environmentally friendly, the two institutions are recommending placing a limit on the number of animals that can be held on one hectare of agricultural land. Furthermore, the Federal Government should provide more information about the consequences of high levels of meat consumption for human health and the environment. Industry and commerce could promote vegetarian products as alternatives to meat with a reliable labelling system.

Promoting organic farming

Nitrogen surpluses and energy consumption are lower in organic farming than in conventional agriculture. Whereas organic farming is more environmentally friendly, making a switch costs money. In order to meet the demand for domestic organic products the vzbv and UBA are calling for more funding for farmers to switch to organic methods. Better traceability and monitoring of organic products would also raise consumer confidence.

It is not only the production of food that puts a strain on the environment: food waste is also problematic. "Reducing food waste is a key step to saving resources in the food sector. It requires all players to cooperate, and the focus of the discussion must not remain on the consumer", says Holger Krawinkel. The vzbv and UBA are also appealing to trade to rethink quality requirements such as the immaculateness, size and shape of food products. A long-term approach to consumer education must start with education in schools and by raising consumer awareness through information.

Contact:

Mirjam Stegherr
Head of Communications, Press Office (vzbv)
Phone: ++33 30 258 00 - 525
E-mail: presse [at] vzbv [dot] de

Stephan Gabriel Haufe
Deputy Press Relations Officer, Federal Environment Agency
Phone: ++33 40 2103 - 6625
E-Mail: stephan [dot] gabriel [dot] haufe [at] uba [dot] de

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 food  ecobalance  agriculture policy  organic farming