The number of food processing businesses has decreased by 40 percent in the last 20 years. (Photo: © goodluz/123RF.com)
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July 2026
The Green Party parliamentary group wants to classify the food processing industry as systemically important – also for food security in times of crisis. They also want to reduce bureaucracy for small businesses.
Fresh rolls from artisan baker They're becoming increasingly rare. Butcher's shop The local dairy is closing due to a lack of young talent. The neighboring dairy farm is now dependent on a large, distant dairy because the last dairy in the region has shut down. This is how the structure of food processing is changing – and that's precisely what's happening. at risk the regional one Power supply.
Artisan food processing businesses ensure a diverse, regional, and resilient supply – from field to fork. However, current conditions are putting many businesses under pressure, leading to an increasing number of food artisans going out of business. the aufgeb must. The fact is: In the last 20 years, the number of businesses in food crafts dramatic Declined by 40 percent.
The parliamentary group Alliance 90 / The Greens Therefore, I want to Strengthening food craftsmanship, among other things, to ensure food security in times of crisis. This is stated in their document. Application (21 / 6664), which they submitted to the Bundestag on June 29, 2026. In it, the members of parliament call on the federal government, among other things, to recognize the food trade as system relevant to acknowledge, and to human life, by ensuring that only businesses that are allowed to use this term actually handcrafted produce and are therefore entitled to apply regulatory exemptions and de minimis thresholds.
Furthermore, the members of parliament call on the federal government to revise existing plans. Funding instruments on the practicality for Micro and small businesses to review and also advocate at EU level that internal market and state aid rules are designed in such a way that craft businesses and regional value chains strengthened .
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The Chambers of Crafts in Germany - Chamber of Crafts Münster
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The Greens are calling for... bureaucratic requirements such as duplicate documentation and reporting – for example, at cooling temperatures – to renounceOr to resolve contradictions between occupational safety and hygiene regulations. The "think small first" principle should also serve as a guideline for parliamentary work: Legal requirements and regulations should be aligned with compliance with occupational safety, environmental, or health standards. Adjusted to company sizes will be. Only in this way could the currently overburdened micro- and Small businesses are relieved of burdens "will be," the parliamentary group emphasizes in its motion.
The parliamentarians explained that the food processing industry fulfills crucial functions for the diversity of the food supply: "If, for example, no grain storage facility can be found in the region for regionally produced grain, the transport routes. It would be too long to reach the next mill, or there wouldn't be any. bakery If there is less willingness or ability locally to produce and market food from regional raw materials, value chains between regional agriculture and processing will be disrupted, food diversity will be limited, and the Local supply threatenedDecentralized structures and flexibility are becoming increasingly important in geopolitically tense times and with the rise of hybrid warfare.
Source: Bundestag
Motion by the Greens in the Bundestag Here you will find the > Application in full text for free download
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