In April 2025, Germany’s newly formed coalition government between the conservative CDU/CSU and the center-left SPD published its coalition agreement, setting out the country’s agricultural policy direction for the coming years. While key goals such as sustainability, biodiversity, and animal welfare remain on the agenda, the approach and instruments of implementation have shifted noticeably compared to the previous “traffic light” coalition (SPD–Greens–FDP).
Pesticides and plant protection
The new coalition abandons the previous ambition to drastically reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50%, a target originally aligned with the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy. Instead, it now emphasizes efficiency, e.g., by promoting precision farming, and integrated pest management, but without setting reduction targets. Pesticide approval procedures are to be streamlined, according to the coalition agreement.
Food production
The agreement puts special emphasis on fruit and vegetable production—an area where Germany has a self-sufficiency rate of only 30%. In response, the 2025 coalition agreement aims to increase production, proposing to implement concrete measures via the “Horticulture Action Plan”.
Organic versus conventional farming
The agreement recognizes both conventional and organic farming as “equally valid” and steps back from the previous government’s goal to reach 30% organic land use by 2030. A new “Bio Strategy” will be introduced, but without concrete targets or timelines. Funding for organic research and education will be increased, yet expansion efforts are described in more general terms.
Livestock and animal welfare
Plans for mandatory, consumer-facing animal welfare labeling—once a hallmark of the previous government’s policy—are to be revised for “practicality.” Long-term investment protection for animal-friendly stables is promised (20-year guarantees), but the pressure to reduce herd sizes or align livestock production with land availability has eased. The coalition also foresees a streamlined approval process for new stables, aiming to remove existing regulatory hurdles.
Soil and biodiversity protection
Germany’s new government explicitly rejects the proposed EU Soil Monitoring Law, which was meant to standardize soil health assessments across the EU. Soil protection remains on the national agenda, but in a voluntary and incentive-based framework. Biodiversity conservation continues, but with a stronger focus on “practical implementation” and cooperation with landowners. Key programs such as ecological compensation and support for agroforestry will continue.
Climate change and agriculture
The new agreement pledges that agriculture will not be included in Germany’s emissions trading system. Climate adaptation remains a goal, with plans to set up a special framework program for nature-based climate solutions. However, mitigation ambitions are comparatively weak, and the commitment to climate-neutral agriculture has been watered down. Support for renewable energy production in rural areas will continue, especially in the form of biofuels.
Agricultural subsidies
Germany will push for a more “income-effective” and less bureaucratic European subsidy system via the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). While the coupling of subsidies to environmental and animal welfare performance remains, the emphasis is now on streamlining and “ensuring competitiveness”.
Agricultural fuels
A notable concession in the new agreement is the full reinstatement of the agricultural diesel subsidy, which had been cut by the previous government and triggered large-scale farmer protests across Germany in early 2024. The coalition also plans to exempt alternative fuels in agriculture and forestry from energy taxes. These decisions directly address key demands from farmers’ associations and reflect a broader effort by the new government to stabilize rural support and reduce tensions with the farming community.
Shifting priorities
The coalition agreement signals a shift from strict environmental regulation towards more flexibility. While environmental goals remain on the agenda, the new government pledges to rebalance policy towards economic viability and practical feasibility for farms.
The new German agricultural policy reflects a broader change at EU level. The incoming European Commission has deprioritized elements of the Green Deal in favor of competitiveness, efficiency, and food security. In line with this, the German government is scaling back regulatory ambitions and refocusing on voluntary measures.
While the new approach may cut red tape for farmers, it raises critical concerns about the effectiveness of climate action and biodiversity protection. The absence of binding targets for pesticide reduction, the retreat from the 30% organic goal, and the rejection of EU soil legislation may slow the pace of ecological transformation.
Download the full coalition agreement (in German language).
