German agriculture task force calls for benchmarking system to better reward sustainable practices

German stakeholders in agriculture support calls for an EU-wide benchmarking system, arguing that this could help reward sustainable practices in the sector. Such a system has been proposed at the EU level to harmonise methodologies of on-farm sustainability assessments.

“On the basis of transparent benchmarking, new funds could be tapped for the financing of sustainability services in agriculture, which is particularly important in times of scarce public funds,” said Germany’s Commission on the Future of Agriculture in a report with policy recommendations, which was presented with months of delay following disputes in the task force. 

The commission was established under the government of former chancellor Angela Merkel and tasked with drawing up recommendations for a productive and time and resource-efficient agricultural industry model. The group, made up of experts from businesses, consumer organisations, environmental NGOs and researchers, presented its first report in 2021, which forms the basis of the proposals now presented. Overall, the commission now called for more funds for agriculture, also for sustainable practices and for adaptation measures against the effects of climate change.

Agriculture is one of the toughest sectors to make more sustainable and climate-friendly. Repeated protests by the farming industry at the beginning of the year took place across Germany and many other European countries, with farmers and agricultural industry lobby groups arguing that excessive bureaucracy, high costs and tighter rules for climate and species protection in farming pose a risk to the sector’s current business model.

A report by think tank Agora Agriculture recently found that the agriculture and forestry sector could play an important role in the EU's goal of achieving climate neutrality by mid-century, while at the same time improving biodiversity protection and other sustainability goals. Re-elected European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has promised to present a “Vision for Agriculture and Food” within the first 100 days in office to make the sector more sustainable and protect EU farmers.