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Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) confirmed on 18/01/2023 her plan to submit to the cabinet as soon as possible a draft law that should ban the use of food and feed crops for the production of biofuels. Already in May 2022, Lemke talked about reducing the upper limit for biofuels from food and feed crops from the current 4.4% to 2.5%. By 2030, the limit is to be gradually reduced to zero. The main goal, according to Lemke, is to ensure that food crops are earmarked for human consumption. Steffi Lemke's position is also supported by Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir. Preparations are currently underway for a formal departmental vote; the law should enter into force by the end of 2023.
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The European Commission is preparing a proposal for voluntary digital labelling of fertilizers sold and produced in the European Union. Commission Representative Ana-Lucia Crişan from the European Commission's Internal Market Directorate spoke at the Industry and Organic Fertilizers Conference on 17/01/2023 about the upcoming system, which, despite being voluntary, should have a number of advantages and for producers and other users would it had to be economically meaningful and beneficial.

The European Commission launched a public consultation on 10/01/2023 inviting stakeholders to comment on the Commission's draft guidelines on setting up sustainability agreements in agriculture using the new derogation from EU competition rules. In its statement, the European Commission states that Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) prohibits agreements between companies that restrict competition, such as agreements between competitors leading to higher prices or lower quantities. However, Article 210a of Regulation No 1308/2013 establishing a common organization of markets in agricultural products excludes from this prohibition certain restrictive agreements in the agricultural sector, if such agreements are necessary to achieve sustainability standards. The aim of the draft guidance is to clarify how economic operators operating in the agri-food sector can propose joint sustainability initiatives in accordance with Article 210a. Comments can be sent until 24/04/2023, the Commission will then analyse them and take further steps with the aim of implementing the guidelines by 08/12/2023. A Commission seminar on the results of the consultation should take place in June 2023.
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The Dublin Declaration was presented in mid-October in Dublin, Ireland. It is a declaration focused on the role of meat in nutrition and the importance of livestock production. On the pages of the Dublin Declaration, the signatories state that livestock farming systems must be developed based on the highest scientific standards – ‘they are too valuable to society to fall prey to simplification, reductionism or fanaticism’. These systems must continue to be embedded in and broadly accepted by society, according to scientists who support the declaration. Currently, 660 scientists from all over the world have supported the Dublin Declaration.
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The European Commission confirmed on 12/01/2023 that it will provide additional funding of €25.5 million to support African countries to address the current food security crisis. €2 million in funding will go to Algeria, Cameroon and Chad, €4 million is earmarked for the Central African Republic and €5.5 million for Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean countries. The largest part of the funds, €10 million, is intended for famine-stricken Sudan. The funds will also be used to strengthen social protection systems, nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene.
More information is available here.