Following a year of intensive debate, on 18 January 2025, the federation of German dairy farmers (BDM) held its traditional symposium at the International Green Week in Berlin. Under the heading “Sustainable development of our farms: who sets the course?”, representatives from science, the dairy industry and practitioners discussed the central challenges for the milk sector.

The symposium focused on the question of how to achieve sustainable, economically viable milk production in the face of global challenges. In his welcoming address, Bernhard Heger, member of the BDM board, emphasised: “Dairy farmers can do whatever society wants in the way of milk production – whether top quality, healthy, regional, sustainable or animal welfare. But to do so, they need clear political framework conditions and a fair market position.”

During the first panel discussion, Prof. Dr Harald Grethe (Humboldt University Berlin) said that sustainability was definitely more than just an empty phrase. However, only about 20 percent of consumers cared about sustainability. Similarly, sustainability cannot be achieved by means of rules and regulations. It is up to the state to safeguard income levels in the agricultural sector, for example by means of a carbon-oriented economy. Kasper Thormod Nielsen (Arla Foods) stated that Arla takes a proactive approach to sustainability so as not to be put under pressure by the retail and political sectors. Arla farmers have measured their climate footprint since 2010. Money and cooperative incentives are needed for more sustainability, said Nielsen.

The author Florian Schwinn tried to redefine sustainability by drawing attention to the questionable nature of the alleged harm to the climate from methane produced by animals. He advocated the need to look at other sources of methane as well. Free-range cattle emitted less methane than stabled cows, and promoted greater biodiversity, said the author.

Kurt Kootz, dairy farmer and BDM member, said it was time to reverse the burden of proof: instead of having to forward farm data to dairies and retailers, producers should be allowed to draw up a realistic bill for climate-related services and then get paid for them, says Kootz. While it is correct that supply and demand dictate the price, this should be based on fair contract design that also takes account of sustainability aspects.

The second panel featured Hagen Stark, board of LsV (Land schafft Verbindung) Germany, Olaf Bandt, President of the environmental protection organisation BUND, Hubertus Paetow, President of DLG (German Agricultural Society), and Hans Foldenauer, BDM board spokesman, who shared their experiences as members of the Commission on the Future of Agriculture 2.0 (Zukunft der Landwirtschaft – ZKL). The ZKL was set up by the former Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel following the farmers’ demonstrations in 2019, for practitioners, scientists and social players to collate recommendations for more sustainable farming. The ZKL was then reinstated by the Green Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir in the following legislative period, and presented its final report at the end of 2024.

To summarise and with a view to the symposium itself, Manfred Gilch, member of the BDM board, emphasised that more money will be needed in the agricultural system if sustainability is going to play a major role. Given the current state of public finances, the only way to generate this is through the market. To this end, the farmers need suitable instruments to give them greater weight in the market. The second panel brought forth the fact that a better market position for farmers can also be combined with the interests of other groups, said Gilch.

Furthermore, the “Fair Milk” prize for outstanding journalism and reporting on milk and agriculture was awarded for the eleventh time during the symposium.

Bundesverband Deutscher Milchviehhalter e.V. (BDM)

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