German supermarkets adopt biodiversity strategy for food procurement

German supermarket chains and organic organizations have adopted a joint strategy to integrate biodiversity criteria into procurement standards. The initiative, announced by Food for Biodiversity, involves major retailers including Aldi, Edeka, Lidl, and Rewe, alongside organic organizations such as Bioland, Naturland, and Ecoland, and companies like Nestlé.

The strategy targets seven product groups: vegetables, fruit, wheat, rapeseed, sugar beets, milk, and meat. By 2030, the goal is to apply biodiversity criteria to at least 85 percent of the private label procurement volume in at least two of these groups. This coverage is intended to expand to all seven groups by 2040. The program is part of the European LIFE project ‘Fit for Biodiversity’ and serves as a sector framework rather than a legal mandate.

In the Netherlands, efforts to support organic agriculture are also emerging. The Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) is investigating long-term procurement partnerships to provide financial security for farmers transitioning to organic farming. This approach aims to mitigate the three-year period where farmers face higher costs before realizing the full benefits of organic production. Additionally, the 2026 update of the Supermarket Dashboard highlights sustainability trends in the Dutch market, noting the performance of retailers regarding organic sales, plant-based proteins, and greenhouse gas emissions.