Sustainable agricultural and food systems “Good Food for Germany” – the Food and Nutrition Strategy

• Balanced diets and sufficient exercise – promoting adequate nutrient and energy intake and exercise,
• More vegetables, fruit and legumes – promoting plant-based diets,
• Growing up healthy and growing old healthy – ensuring socially equitable access to healthy and sustainable nutrition,
• Well-balanced diets in daycare, school and canteen meals – improving mass catering,
• Good food for us and our planet – increasing the supply of sustainably and organically produced food,
• Valuing food – reducing food waste.

Furthermore, alternative proteins, for example, can make it easier to switch to a more plant-based – and therefore more sustainable – diet within planetary boundaries.

With “Good Food for Germany” – the Food and Nutrition Strategy, the German Government is also working towards the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda. The Food and Nutrition Strategy was developed by the German Government in a transparent, participatory process. Accordingly, broad-based consultations were held with representatives from the administration, the scientific community, business, consumers, the environmental sector and civil society, among others.

The German Government is also committed to reducing food waste. Even now, around 11 million tonnes of food is discarded in Germany every year. While parts of it are not fit for consumption, some of this food is still edible. Further losses also occur along the food supply chain. From an ethical, environmental and economic viewpoint, wasting food is unacceptable. The food waste reduction targets set out in the 2030 Agenda are ambitious and can only be achieved at the national level in conjunction with all stakeholders along the food supply chain.

The National Strategy for Food Waste Reduction (External link) aims to reduce food waste along the entire food supply chain and is being continuously updated for this purpose. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), for example, aims to halve food waste in Germany by 2030 and reduce food losses. The BMLEH has therefore concluded a voluntary agreement on food waste reduction with wholesale and retail sector companies. The agreement is having an effect, as the latest monitoring shows. With the Too good for the bin! (External link) campaign, it has been possible, in recent years, to raise public awareness and respect for food by providing targeted, effective information and motivate the public to adopt resource-conserving behaviours.