German agricultural policy reform demands

German agricultural stakeholders continue to advocate for structural reforms to mitigate economic and regulatory pressures. While Bavarian Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber has previously called for the removal of bureaucratic laws, such as the EU Restoration Regulation and current animal welfare labeling, recent discussions among agriculture ministers in Würzburg have highlighted specific implementation concerns.

Brandenburg’s Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt has expressed reservations regarding the planned 2027 national animal welfare labeling system. She argues that the initiative must include imported goods to ensure fair competition for regional farmers. This follows ongoing demands from organizations like the Badischer Landwirtschaftlicher Hauptverband (BLHV) for long-term diesel relief to provide planning security amidst high costs and drought conditions.

Policy discussions have also expanded to include a joint initiative from Hamburg, Bremen, and Lower Saxony aimed at improving the social and economic standing of women in agriculture.

On the environmental front, nature conservation groups continue to appeal for reliable funding for rural development and biodiversity under upcoming EU policies. While an EU stress test recently suggested that current nature conservation regulations are effective and do not require fundamental reform, implementation challenges persist within individual member states. This contrasts with the earlier positions of groups like NABU and LBV, who have emphasized the need for policy to prioritize long-term climate resilience and soil health over reactive financial aid.

During the Agricultural Ministers' Conference (AMK) in Würzburg, approximately 500 demonstrators gathered to protest against rising costs for energy and fertilizer, alongside increasing bureaucracy. Representing the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV), President Günther Felßner has called on state ministers to advocate for a robust EU agricultural policy and budget for the 2028–2034 period. Felßner emphasized that family-run farms are essential for food security and requested that EU policy shift toward providing direct economic support for these businesses.