Free-range farms receive necessary support, according to the BUND.
In a significant move towards more sustainable livestock farming practices, market-dominant supermarkets in Germany, including Aldi Süd, have announced they will stop selling meat products from levels 1 and 2 of semi-free husbandry after 2030. Other major retailers committed to similar standards are also expected to follow suit.
The decision, however, does not necessarily imply a shift towards organic livestock farming standards. Instead, it aims to promote the sale of fresh meat, chilled meat, and sausage products, and drinking milk from higher husbandry levels. For example, Aldi Süd plans to sell only such products by 2030.
The Environmental Organization BUND in Brandenburg has been instrumental in pushing for these stricter regulations in the promotion of conventional livestock farms. Their proposal seeks to ensure that new livestock farms meet certain environmental standards, potentially leading to a shift towards more sustainable farming practices in Brandenburg.
The BUND's proposal also advocates for state support to be conditional upon organic livestock farming standards. Specifically, they are pushing for the requirement of outdoor access for livestock in new farms, a standard typically found at husbandry form levels 4 or 5, which refer to organic livestock farming standards.
It's important to note that this decision does not affect the promotion of husbandry levels 3, 4, and 5, or existing livestock farms operating at levels 1 and 2. However, the BUND's ongoing advocacy for stricter regulations in conventional livestock farming may be influenced by the supermarkets' decision.
This move could potentially protect businesses from supply problems after 2030 and further encourage a shift towards more sustainable livestock farming practices in Germany. The alignment of the supermarkets' decision with the BUND's advocacy for stricter rules in the promotion of new livestock farms indicates a shared commitment to improving the environmental standards of livestock farming.
