Green agriculture minister Germany is vegetarian

Cem Özdemir has been appointed as Germany's new agriculture minister. The new minister is a representative of Die Grünen, also known as the German Green Left. With the appointment of vegetarian Özdemir, a new political wind will probably blow through German agricultural policy.

In barely ten weeks, German politicians managed to arrive at a new formation. An efficient example of negotiations, where political walls were apparently quite easily bridged. We Dutch can learn something from that. The formation here has been going on for almost three quarters of a year and a breakthrough is still not forthcoming.

Different wind after 16 years Merkel
With Chancellor Angela Merkel leaving after 2030 years, German politics will take on a different character. The Christian Democrats are on the sidelines for the first time in a long time. The new government is made up of Social Democrats, Liberals and Greens. SPD leader Olaf Scholz becomes the new chancellor. The coalition agreement is full of green plans. For example, the energy transition must be accelerated and the budget has been generous for this. The government also aims to close all coal-fired power stations in the country by 2038, initially planned for XNUMX. There will be a separate Ministry of Climate. This is to be able to tackle the urgent problem according to the coalition.

German with Turkish roots
It is striking that Die Grünen have taken on the agricultural policy. The 57-year-old Cem Özdemir will be ultimately responsible in this file. This born German with Turkish roots is an experienced politician. He has been a member of the Bundestag, the parliament of Germany, since 2013. Before that, he had been in the European Parliament for years. A salient detail, Özdemir is a vegetarian and that is quite a thing in the (agricultural) German media. Although everyone is of course free to make their own choices, this will probably leave a somewhat sour taste for German livestock farmers. They probably would have liked to see a minister jump on the barricade for them.

'Whoever wants to eat meat, may do so'
The opposite is true. Özdemir wants to break with existing customs. In his first interview to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, he indicates that he is tightening the rules for the meat industry. "Whoever wants to eat meat is allowed to do so. Whoever produces meat may also do so, but with due observance of measures regarding animal welfare and the environment," says Özdemir. One of the measures that the new minister is aiming for is mandatory livestock labelling. The method of transport and slaughter must also be included. Other dossiers, such as fertilizer legislation and substance use, may also be subject to further tightening with the arrival of Özdemir. Just like in the Netherlands, agricultural policy in Germany is also changing rapidly.

Circle is round
Özdemir indicates that he has warm feelings for agriculture. This is partly because his father was a farmer in Turkey before he came to Germany as a guest worker. "Now that I can become Minister of Agriculture in Germany, the circle is complete." Özdemir is the first child from a guest worker family to become a minister in a federal cabinet near our eastern neighbours. 

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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