SDG 2
End hunger, achieve food security and better nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
§ Reform of land market policy through, among other things, changes to the land transfer tax
A broad distribution of farmland ownership in the hands of farmers is the basis for a healthy agricultural structure and a declared goal of the federal government. While self-employed farmers or start-ups in Germany have to pay between 3.5 and 6.5 percent land transfer tax when buying arable land or grassland, depending on the federal state, this tax does not apply to share purchases. If investors do not buy the land directly, but shares of less than 90 per cent, e.g. in a limited liability company, public limited company or cooperative, which owns the land, the tax and approval obligation does not apply - the purchase bypasses the Real Estate Transactions Act. This unequal treatment discriminates against agricultural enterprises and promotes the sale of agricultural land to non-agricultural investors. Furthermore, it increases the purchase and lease prices. The Land Transactions Act at Land level urgently needs to be regulated in accordance with the report of the Federal-Länder Working Group on Land Market Policy. Share purchases must be subject to approval. The criteria for this must be oriented towards the common good. An effective reform of the land transfer tax must be implemented at the federal level. One way to avoid further concentration processes on the land market would be a progressive land transfer tax, analogous to income tax. In short: those who already own a lot of land pay a higher land transfer tax than those with little or no land. Start-ups, young people, special farm structures (e.g. organic farms, particularly high employment figures, etc.) could also be exempted from land transfer tax. Appropriate criteria must be worked out together with the relevant interest groups. Special consideration must be given to the federal government as a landowner and in its responsibility for the preservation of peasant agriculture. Here, sustainable criteria for leasing that support farmers could be particularly effective and send a political signal. A reform of land market policy and land allocation practices should follow internationally recognised norms, in particular the "Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land and Land Use Rights, Fisheries and Forests" adopted by the UN World Food Committee (CFS). Among other things, these universally accepted standards should be anchored in the assessment of key land policy aspects such as "sound agrarian structure".
For further reading and discussion:
The multi-stakeholder competence network for livestock farming (Borchert Commission) was launched in 2019 and presented its recommendations for a restructuring of livestock farming in February 2020. The Bundestag and Bundesrat have already agreed to implement the resolutions in 2020. Now it is a matter of casting them into law. The feasibility study published by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) at the beginning of March 2020 and the impact assessment prove that the recommendations of the Bochert Commission are legally possible and structurally necessary. For this, further elaboration of the recommendations in the working groups must be made possible, for example with an honest assessment of the weaknesses of an export-oriented agricultural model with regard to the economic security of farms. In this context, the focus must be broadened from the pig and chicken farming sectors, which were particularly in the focus of the Borchert Commission, to include cattle and dairy farming, which are also relevant for farm structures in Germany. The BMEL must do everything in its power to implement the recommendations before the federal elections and to point out a reliable path for the farms. The BMEL has announced its intention, as the federal government, to conclude contracts between agriculture and the state, which are currently being drafted. These contracts must clearly indicate the conversion steps to the farms and offer reliable planning security in order to be able to enter into the necessary conversion financially.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.bmel.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/_Tiere/Nutztiere/machbarkeitsstudie-borchert.html
§ Legislative implementation of the proposals of the Borchert Commission for a restructuring of livestock farming
§ Creation of progressive German CAP laws
The Common European Agricultural Policy (CAP) must make the transition to a system of income-generating remuneration for services of general interest. To this end, direct payments must be gradually reduced to zero and the budget of the eco-schemes, which must be made binding for all member states, must be increased annually accordingly. The upcoming national shaping of the CAP within the framework of a national legally anchored strategic plan must be tackled progressively and the eco-schemes adopted at EU level must be implemented both in a way that generates income and is effective in terms of environmental and animal protection in Germany. The decisions of the EU Council and Parliament as well as the Federal Cabinet and the Conference of Agriculture Ministers have so far been insufficient to deal with the pressure for change on farms, the tense economic situation in animal husbandry and the necessary restructuring of agriculture towards more climate and animal protection, as a large share of CAP funds is still to be allocated in an unqualified manner. The eco-schemes in particular are suitable for rewarding farmers' achievements in climate, environmental and animal protection. A possible starting point for the implementation of the CAP is the introduction of a points-based common good premium with which the support system of the CAP can be completely aligned with the principle of "public money for public services" in the future. Farms will thus be rewarded for the services they provide in terms of area or animal welfare, instead of being subsidised - as has been the case up to now - largely on a flat-rate basis according to the size of the eligible hectare.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.dvl.org/projekte/projektdetails/gemeinwohlpraemie
Already 15 percent of children in Germany are overweight, and more than six percent are even obese. Studies show that overweight children usually have to struggle with weight problems throughout their lives. The likelihood of these children developing diseases such as type II diabetes or high blood pressure is many times higher than for children with a normal weight. Their life expectancy is correspondingly shorter. The fact that children become overweight is mainly due to the obesogenic environment in which they live. Studies show that most products advertised to children are sweets and snacks that do not meet the World Health Organisation's (WHO) nutritional recommendations for children. The WHO has therefore long demanded that marketing directed at children should only be allowed for healthy foods. To this end, the WHO has presented a nutrient profile model which defines precisely for which foods or recipes advertising directed at children must be prohibited. A legal ban on food advertising to children for unhealthy products should include television advertising, billboard advertising, online advertising, school and sports sponsorship as well as packaging advertising and be based on the WHO guidelines. With such a law, Germany would follow the example of many other countries. The most extensive restrictions currently apply in Chile. There, unhealthy foods may no longer be advertised to children under 14. On the one hand, there is a comprehensive ban on advertising on television, radio and cinema, on the other hand, there is a ban on comic/ cartoon characters on packaging as well as a ban on toy add-ons. In addition, the sale of unhealthy food in schools is prohibited.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.foodwatch.org/de/informieren/kinderernaehrung/mehr-zum-thema/foodwatch-marktcheck/
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/270716/Nutrient-children_web-new.pdf
§ Prohibition of food advertising and marketing directed at children for unhealthy products.
§ Strict regulation of new genetic technologies and a moratorium on the release of gene drive organisms
Genetic engineering is genetic engineering. In Germany and at the European level, all existing and future genetic engineering methods and the resulting genetically modified organisms (GMOs) must continue to be regulated and labelled under existing EU genetic engineering law. Approval procedures with comprehensive risk assessment must also apply to organisms modified with new genetic engineering methods. In accordance with the precautionary principle, the technology-related risks must be assessed. The safeguarding of freedom of choice and transparency for consumers, producers and trade and the maintenance of labelling, traceability and liability for GM products must be ensured, as must the rapid development of detection methods, also for new genetic engineering and the consistent monitoring of imports for genetically modified plants, animals and products. A global, publicly accessible register is needed that contains transparent information on all GMOs that are released, cultivated or marketed. The goal must be the end of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant and insecticide-producing plants, a ban on genetic engineering for animal breeding and on patents on life. Instead, the loss of biodiversity must be stopped, and genetic diversity, biodiversity and diversity of biotic communities must be preserved and promoted. To protect human health and biodiversity, there needs to be a global moratorium on the use of technology to replace, decimate or completely eradicate wild species through genetic engineering variants. This is also demanded by the European Parliament in a motion for a resolution of January 2020, thus following a call by over 200 organisations in Europe and worldwide. The Bundestag and the Federal Government should join the call for a moratorium and lead the way with a ban on the release of gene drive organisms in Germany.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.dnr.de/fileadmin/Positionen/2021-04-21-Positionspapier-Gentechnik.pdf
This also works at the federal level
In 2016, France became the first country in the world to introduce a law prohibiting supermarkets from throwing away unsold or unsaleable but still edible food. This applies, for example, to products that have exceeded their best-before date, fruit/vegetables with bruises or bread from the previous day. Markets with an area of 400 square metres or more are obliged to donate this food to charitable causes, such as local food banks. Alternatively, they can donate the food to agriculture as animal feed or compost. Violators of this law face fines of up to €4,500. Food banks and charities in France have since reported that the quantity and variety of food they receive has increased significantly, while the quality has also improved. However, the new rule in France is not only beneficial for food banks and those in need - supermarkets receive 60 per cent of the purchase price of the donated food back with the tax. Italy, the Czech Republic and Finland followed the French example with similar laws. In Germany, "containerising", i.e. rescuing unused food from the rubbish, is still illegal despite dramatic food waste.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.cec-zev.eu/de/themen/alltag-in-frankreich/lebensmittelverschwendung-in-frankreich/
§ Law against food waste in France
§ Soft Drink Tax in the United Kingdom
In April 2018, a new tax on highly sugared drinks (officially: "Soft Drinks Industry Levy") came into force in the United Kingdom. Since then, manufacturers have to pay a levy depending on the sugar content of the drink. If the drink contains more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres, the tax is 21 cents; if it contains more than 8 grams, it is 33 cents per litre (for comparison: Fanta or Sprite in Germany contain about 9 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres). The tax revenue generated from this goes into subsidies for healthy school breakfasts, school sports and other preventive measures. Even before the law came into force, a number of manufacturers had reduced the sugar content in their drinks. Between 2015 and 2018, the average value dropped by about 30 per cent from 5.4 to 3.9 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. Sales of highly sugared drinks halved over the same period. The soft drink tax is therefore having an effect.
For further reading and discussion:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/soft-drinks-industry-levy-comes-into-effect
Spain has had a food supply chain law since 2013. It aims to make the supply chain more competitive, transparent and efficient, and to strengthen agriculture and bring benefits to society and consumers. In February 2020, two important changes were made. For the first time, production costs must be included in the contract. In other words, the contractual price between the producer in agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries or his association and their first buyer must explicitly cover the actual production costs. The regulation applies to all commercial transactions with a value of more than 2,500 euros. Germany can follow suit, but should in principle go further in its legislation.
For further reading and discussion: