WBBGR submits statement on soil protection to the Minister of Agriculture

"The Advisory Council is a key partner for my ministry when it comes to the conservation and sustainable use of biological and, in particular, genetic diversity. In view of climate change, the decline in biodiversity and rising social expectations of agriculture and forestry, your independent scientific advice is indispensable," said Minister Rainer.

The meeting also focused on the handover of the advisory board's first statement in the current appointment period 2025-2028 entitled "Soil protection with impact: recommendations for implementing the goals of the coalition agreement". In it, the WBBGR summarizes key recommendations that should serve as a guide for political and administrative measures in the future.

The paper also discusses how the soil-related goals of the coalition agreement can be implemented effectively and practically in agriculture and how agricultural businesses can be supported in the sustainable management of soils through incentives, advice and digital processes. In the joint discussion, Minister Rainer emphasized the importance of soils as a non-renewable economic basis for agriculture and forestry.

The core of the statement is a lean package of measures that relieves the burden on farms and has a greater impact. The approach relies on cooperation, existing knowledge and digital simplification and supports farms in operating well and sustainably.

Background information

The WBBGR is one of five committees that provides independent scientific advice to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH) on general and fundamental issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at national, EU and international level.

In its second meeting, the inter- and intradisciplinary WBBGR was reconstituted for the period 2025 to 2028. The 18 members elected Prof. Maria Finckh from the University of Kassel as the new Chair. Prof. Jana Zscheischler from the University of Göttingen and Prof. Inga Schleip from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development were elected as deputies.

Over the next few months, the committee will probably focus on the currently much-discussed topics of the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU Recovery Regulation. Many other topics were discussed and will occupy the advisory board over the next three years.

You can find more information on the WBBGR at https://www.bmleh.de/DE/ministerium/organisation/beiraete/beiraete_node.html and https://www.genres.de/fachgremien/wissenschaftlicher-beirat-fuer-biodiversitaet-und-genetische-ressourcen.