Germany currently has the largest population in the EU. It is also one of the richest countries in Europe. But how sufficient is its agriculture for the population's needs? The
has dwindled significantly. If there were around 904,700 businesses in 1975, in 2023 there were 255,000. On the one hand, farmers were displeased with recent agricultural legislation, which led to the so-called tractor protests around the country. Other issues also influence keeping businesses alive, such as deliveries to and from abroad, as well as hiring workers from other countries during harvest season. On the other hand, industrial and technological advancements have allowed for work which required copious amounts of labor in previous decades to be completed with less human interaction.
Feeding the nation
The self-sufficiency rate is an important indicator of the agricultural sector. It is a percentage of necessary agricultural products produced in a country on its own. A shortage is defined by a self-sufficiency rate under 100 percent, which is when additional imports may be included. In 2023,
fresh milk products had a self-sufficiency rate of around 114 percent, thus indicating that Germany is more than able to supply the nation with these products domestically. For comparison, the self-sufficiency rate for
fruit was roughly 20 percent that same year, as there are quite a few types that do not grow on German soil, but are still popular and in demand. Low self-sufficiency rates mean that agricultural sectors in other countries may focus especially on certain exports, such as fruit that grows in warmer climates than Germany. In 2022, Germany imported around 14.13 million tons of
fresh fruits and vegetables.
The price of sustainability
Mixed agriculture was the most profitable segment, followed by agricultural services and grain cultivation (pulses and oilseeds). Mixed agriculture, more widely known as mixed farming, involves growing crops and raising animals on one property, creating a farm that serves multiple agricultural purposes. Agricultural services include a broad range of activities and are defined by contributing to agricultural production. Progress is being made in
organic farming, which becomes ever more relevant in the context of global climate change and ongoing environmental concerns. Organic farming aims to use sustainable methods, relying on non-chemical, natural fertilizers and pesticides. These come from animal and plant waste. The challenges involved include higher product prices for consumers and therefore lower yields for producers. Among the leading
expectations of the population from agricultural businesses were animal husbandry appropriate to the species and fair pay for employees. Considering the decreased number of said businesses in the country, the question arises of how much pressure falls on a single business in the context of supplying regional and national demand.
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