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German associations warn of setbacks in agricultural policy

by AI | 16.Jan 2026 | Europe in brief AI

Reverse gear in agricultural policy? The German Agricultural Alliance warns in its current “Critical Agricultural Report” of the loss of ecological achievements in the agricultural sector.

A tractor with a trailer full of sugar beets. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa

Berlin (dpa) – An alliance of German environmental, agricultural and animal protection associations is warning of setbacks in German and European agricultural policy. “Much of what has been painstakingly built up over the last fifteen, twenty years – for nature, for animal welfare, for clean water, for fair prospects for farms – is now being dismantled again,” said Olaf Bandt, chairman of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), which is part of the AgrarBündnis. This mainly affects farms that have invested particularly in ecological sectors.

The alliance criticizes, for example, the EU planning for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from 2028 onwards, in which there is to be no longer a guaranteed minimum budget for public goods such as climate measures. “We need reliable and fair rules for nature, climate and animal and environmental protection and for the preservation of family-run and competitive farms,” emphasized Bandt. According to him, the strength of European agriculture is characterized by quality, regionality and animal welfare.

Agricultural report motto: “Change & Resistance”

The managing director of the alliance, Katrin Jürgens, emphasized: “We have known for years what is needed for sustainable, socially just and future-proof agriculture.” Instead, according to Jürgens, there is currently a clear political headwind, “in parts even a reverse gear.”

In the “Critical Agricultural Report” published today, the alliance sets out 50 demands on agricultural policy. Under this year’s motto “Change & Resistance”, it is about a political decision on direction, said Jürgens. In the AgrarBündnis, 25 associations from agriculture, environmental, nature and animal protection as well as consumer and development policy have joined forces. The “Critical Agricultural Report” has been published since 1993. (15 January)