In order to strengthen the dialogue between agriculture, the food industry and environmental organizations, several round tables are organized within the Clean Air Farming project. On June 26 and 30, the first round tables took place in virtual form.

The food industry and retailer have a significant influence on the environmental quality of food production and thus also on the air pollution control through agriculture. However, at present, this topic does not yet have the status in the food industry that it should actually enjoy due to its importance for society as a whole. So far, only a few quality labels and standards contain effective criteria for reducing methane and ammonia emissions.

Ten relevant labels and standards have been analyzed by the Lake Constance Foundation and initial recommendations have been developed on how new criteria for the reduction of methane and ammonia emissions can be included in standards. These recommendations were presented to interested labels and standards on 26 June at a first virtual round table and discussed together.

Together with associations of the agricultural, meat and dairy industries, practical options for reducing methane and ammonia emissions were discussed at a second virtual round table on 30 June, and the necessary political framework conditions and incentives were formulated. Prof. Dr. Heinz Flessa, Head of the Thuenen Institute for Agricultural Climate Protection, gave an informative introductory lecture on ammonia and methane emissions from German agriculture and the sources, trends and reductions. The aim is to work out a jointly agreed position of the actors on the reduction of methane and ammonia emissions.

In the next step, the recommendations and the position paper will be revised and further coordinated with the actors concerned.