Federal Office for Agriculture and Food

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Climate

Climate change poses major challenges for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture. Diets and the way people consume should also conserve resources and be environmentally compatible. Short- and long-term climate mitigation and climate adaptation measures contribute to the Federal Government’s climate mitigation goals and ensure the continuous production of high-quality food, feed and raw materials in sufficient quantities. The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) supports the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in the development and implementation of its climate mitigation measures and the adaptation of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture to climate change.

Information and coordination of climate-relevant content and actors

Within the BLE, the Climate Information and Coordination Secretariat serves as a central point of contact with regards to the topics of climate mitigation and climate adaptation in exchange with the BMEL and its departmental research. The BLE supports the BMEL in the implementation and further development of the Federal Climate Action Programme 2030 and other climate-related measures, including the further development of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change and the implementation of the Agenda for Climate change Adaptation in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Climate Information and Coordination Secretariat also performs tasks as the office of the Federation-Länder-Working group on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Federation-Länder-Working group on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (BLAG ALFFA)

Within the BLAG ALFFA, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) cooperates with representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the Länder, the BMEL's departmental research (Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, Julius Kühn Institute, Thünen Institute and Max Rubner Institute), the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) and the German National Meteorological Service (DWD) to develop solutions to the many challenges climate change poses for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture. The BLE, functioning as the BLAG ALFFA secretariat, supports the activities of the working group.

Energy efficiency and CO2 reduction

On behalf of the BMEL, the BLE implements the Federal Programme for the Support of Measures Towards Enhanced Energy Efficiency in Agriculture and Horticulture. The programme aims to reduce energy-related emissions from production processes by up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 equivalents per year by 2030. This is to be achieved by promoting consulting, investments and knowledge transfer. Investment support covers measures for energy conservation and efficient energy use, renewable energy generation and mobile machinery with regenerative drive technologies.

Sustainable biomass production

With its Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable resources (Renewable Energy Directive) the European Union laid down sustainability criteria for the production and energetic use of biomass. In Germany, the BLE is the competent authority for the implementation of the sustainability criteria stated in the Renewable Energy Directive. One task within the entire process of sustainable biomass production concerns the authorisation and supervision of certification systems and bodies.

The BLE also issues so-called partial proofs of sustainability and manages a directory of all plants which produce electricity from bioliquids. The BLE evaluates the implementation of the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive in Germany. Read more

Research funding

The BLE promotes research on climate mitigation and climate adaptation through various measures, including the adaptation of production systems and livestock farming to climate change, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock farming, humus conservation and humus build-up in arable land, the reduction of nitrogen surpluses including ammonia emission reduction and the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions as well as the expansion of legume cultivation, organic farming and permanent grassland.

Breeding research to improve crops and livestock in terms of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and resource efficiency is also of great importance. Agricultural landscape laboratories are to be set up to allow tests of climate adaptation measures, which extend beyond the scope of the individual farm and affect an entire region, in a nationally equivalent and comparable framework. Within the measures’ framework, possible uses of new digital information technologies for the adaptation to climate change are to be further explored.

Through the research and innovation programme "Climate Protection in Agriculture" , the BMEL supports innovative research and development projects that can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture or provide a corresponding impetus for practice. The BLE coordinates the programme and, as the project management agency, supervises the projects.

Research focuses on the following issues: alternative drive technologies and renewable energies, optimisation of individual farm climate assessments, socio-economic issues, processes and technical approaches in plant production and processing, and climate-optimised processes in animal husbandry.

Knowledge transfer from research to practice – and back

Scientifically sound information on climate change and climate adaptation forms the basis for many practical measures. Among other things, the BLE supports the BMEL in the implementation and monitoring of model and demonstration projects, living labs and pilot farms. In these scientifically accompanied projects, various actors involved test new approaches and technical innovations on agricultural farms and in the forests. The results shall serve the practice and for scientific purposes.

Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for agriculture and food

In addition to research funding, the BLE supports the conservation, documentation, characterisation and sustainable use of genetic resources. They are an important resource for genetic diversity, necessary, for instance, to breed crops that are adapted to climate change, forest plants, livestock and fish. The Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity (IBV), located within the BLE, oversees the implementation of the Agrobiodiversity Strategy and of the National Programmes on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture on behalf of the BMEL with its accompanying committees.

Information products for sustainable and socially accepted agriculture

The Federal Information Centre for Agriculture (BZL), located within the BLE, offers a wide range of information materials, including for advisory services as well as education and training in the agricultural sector. For agricultural practice, the BZL prepares results from research and model projects related to climate change and climate adaptation in its various media. It shows consumers how to use natural resources sustainably and informs them about the connections between consumption decisions and sustainable production. These communication measures aim to support the shift towards a sustainable and socially accepted agriculture.

Nutrition communication for healthy and sustainable diets

At the Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE), the BLE bundles competences for nutrition in Germany and supports the BMEL where nutrition and diets communication are concerned. Activities focus on clear, neutral and scientifically sound information on healthy and sustainable diets to provide target group-specific communication offers which help design health promoting, resource conserving, environmentally and climate-friendly lifestyles in diverse, viable and fair nutrition environments. The BZfE addresses multipliers as well as the public in general and always communicates close to consumers' everyday eating habits.

Avoiding food waste

With the coordination office, "Zu gut für die Tonne!" ("Too good for the bin!"), the BLE supports the implementation of the BMEL's National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste. The broad range of information raises awareness for the environmental and climate impact of waste and promotes a more comprehensive appreciation of food. Through national forums, "Too Good for the Bin!" promotes dialogue on nationwide food rescue and waste prevention activities in primary production, processing, wholesale and retail, out-of-home catering, and private household sectors. The campaign week "Germany saves food!" and the awarding of the federal prize for special commitment shown by individual initiatives and projects represent annual highlights.

Strengthening sustainability in communal catering

By making sustainable nutrition policy, municipalities protect the climate and the environment. How to design successful sustainable catering strategies and how can organic food in day care centres, schools and other public kitchens contribute to that? This is what the initiatives BioBitte (BioPlease), for more organic food in public kitchens, and Bio kann jeder – nachhaltig essen in Kita und Schule (Anyone can do organic – eat sustainably in day care centres and schools), convey.

They show policy-makers, administrators, contracting authorities, kitchen managers and educational staff how to increase the proportion of organic products successfully. Promoting the use of organically produced products in away-from-home catering (OHC) is one of the goals pursued by the Strategy for the Future of Organic Farming, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). “BioBitte” and “Bio kann jeder” are measures within the Federal Organic Farming Scheme (BÖL). Further information, event dates and contacts are available at www.bio-bitte.info and www.biokannjeder.de.

Networking of rural areas

The German Network Office for Rural Areas (DVS), located within the BLE, supports stakeholders in the development of rural regions - aiming to sustainably improve living conditions in rural areas, strengthen villages, advance environmental protection and nature conservation, and to support local businesses and agriculture and forestry. The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) offers funding opportunities for projects and processes. The DVS provides relevant information in events, through media such as the LandInForm magazine, the Landaktuell newsletter and on its website.

Climate mitigation also plays a major role in rural areas: sustainable concepts and innovations in agriculture allow saving emissions and storing CO2. Regional development involves municipalities and citizens to establish climate mitigation and adaptation projects for rural areas. DVS databases contain good practical examples.

International climate mitigation and climate adaptation activities

Climate change threatens agricultural development and thus food security, especially in the countries of the Global South. Sustainable and productive agriculture adapted to climate change is therefore key to global food security. The BLE supports the BMEL in international climate mitigation activities, including cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Convention to Combat Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

"4 per 1000" Initiative – Healthy soils for global nutrition and climate

The international "4 per 1000" Initiative aims to establish healthy and carbon-rich soils around the globe. The BLE supports the initiative’s Executive Secretariat on behalf of the BMEL.

Bilateral Trust Fund

The BLE also prepares and implements bilateral and international projects on climate mitigation and adaptation, financed, inter alia, through the BMEL's Bilateral Trust Fund (BTF) along with the FAO.