Advocates Suggest Federal Government Should Boost Plant-Based Foods as Preferred Options - Federal Advisers Propose Boosting Plant-Based Food Options by the Government
In a significant move towards a more sustainable future, Germany's scientific advisory board has recommended the active promotion of plant-based foods and alternative proteins as key components of a sustainable diet. This shift, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability, has become a key focus for the federal government.
The advisory board's guidance proposes that 75% of diets should consist of plant-based sources, highlighting the environmental benefits such as lower greenhouse gas emissions linked to alternative proteins compared to conventional livestock farming. The board also advocates for protein diversification and national leadership to reduce polarization in the food system and support sustainable nutrition transitions.
However, this shift towards more plant-based alternatives poses a challenge for livestock farms. Farmers are already feeling the price pressure as plant-based alternatives become more mainstream. The board and related reports recognize that while animal-sourced foods remain important in nutrition, especially for supplying essential proteins and micronutrients for healthy development, there are significant difficulties ahead. These include environmental pressures to reduce emissions associated with livestock production, potential reductions in demand, socioeconomic challenges for farmers adapting to changing market and policy environments, and nutritional equity concerns.
The outlook from OECD-FAO indicates that although animal-based food consumption is projected to rise in lower middle-income countries to improve nutrition, low-income countries may still lack adequate access to nutrient-rich animal foods, highlighting a complex balance between nutritional needs and sustainability goals.
In light of these challenges, the federal government's role is to support consumers with information and clear labeling, not to make recommendations. The unequal treatment of alternative products in value-added tax is a concern, with plant-based alternatives currently subject to a higher VAT rate than animal products. The advisory board and government advisors demand that restrictive or blocking policies should not hinder the spread of plant-based alternative products.
The development of plant-based and biotechnological alternative products holds great potential. Consumption of meat and alternatives is used as a symbol issue for identity-political strategies, but the expert panel has given plant-based foods a generally positive review. Purely plant-based alternative products are expected to become increasingly affordable, appealing to a wide range of consumers.
Germany should act internationally as a "driver" for alternative products, advocating for sustainable diets and nutrition transitions globally. Livestock farming should be supported in its transformation towards better animal welfare, ensuring a balance between environmental sustainability, nutritional needs, and socio-economic factors. The shift towards fewer animal products could lead to a more sustainable agricultural and nutritional economy.
References: [1] German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (2021). Sustainable Diets for a Healthy Life. Retrieved from https://www.bundesverbraucherschutzbund.de/fileadmin/user_upload/BV/downloads/Sustainable_Diets_for_a_Healthy_Life.pdf [2] German Advisory Council on the Environment (2020). Protein Challenge in a Changing Climate. Retrieved from https://www.uba.de/wb/umweltpolitik/themen/schutz-der-nahrungsmittel-und-landwirtschaft/protein-herausforderungen-im-klimawandel/ [5] OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030. Retrieved from https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2021-2030_9789264315688-en
- The federal government's employment policy should prioritize the advancement of science, particularly in the areas of nutrition, environmental-science, health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise, to support sustainable diet initiatives and promote environmental sustainability.
- As part of the community policy, the government should address the unequal treatment of plant-based alternatives in value-added tax (employment policy) to foster a level playing field and encourage the growth of these products.
- International collaboration is crucial for driving the adoption of plant-based and biotechnological alternative products (development policy), ensuring a sustainable agricultural and nutritional economy while addressing nutritional equity concerns (health-and-wellness policy) in lower-income countries.
