The turbulent developments in German agriculture are being closely monitored by Austrian farmers. Germany is the largest market for Austrian food exports. If the rules change in Germany, it also affects Austrian dairy producers.
Supermarket chains like Aldi and Lidl are increasingly avoiding purchasing food products without certification labels. This currently impacts mainly the German dairy industry. Because Austrians have a better reputation than Germans regarding animal welfare, organic farming, and quality labels, already one in every four liters of milk produced in Austria is exported to Germany.
Additionally, the Austrian meat industry benefits from the effects of African swine fever in eastern Germany. Last year, the number of pig farmers in Germany decreased by more than 15 percent. The country produced ten percent less pork meat.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer advocates in the ‘Plan Austria’ for more respect for Austrian farmers, as well as guaranteeing a secure food supply. Both Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) and Strasser, chairman of the farmers’ association, welcomed the chancellor’s soothing words. They primarily blame the environmental criteria of the EU on agriculture.
Regarding compliance with European animal welfare criteria, Austria has a better reputation than Germany. In an international comparison, Austria leads in balancing sustainability objectives. For example, agriculture—mostly carried out on small family farms—is already more than thirty percent organic, far ahead of the rest of the EU countries.