In light of increasing climate challenges, German agroecologist Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Taube from the University of Kiel is calling for drastic changes in European agriculture: reducing livestock numbers, abandoning intensive farming on drained peatlands, and focusing on plant-based production and ecosystem restoration.
Wetlands as the Key to Climate Neutrality
According to Taube, the greatest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Germany lies not in new technology, but in rewetting drained peatlands. In regions such as Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, these soils emit more than 23 million tons of CO₂-equivalent annually. Continuing intensive dairy farming on such land, he warns, will become economically unsustainable, as future emission trading schemes will drastically increase per-hectare costs.
Solar panels on rewetted areas, instead of cows, could become the main income source for farms in the coming decades.
Livestock Reduction as a Necessity
Taube proposes reducing dairy cows by about 30%, and pig and poultry production by up to 50%. These measures are not only ecological – they are tied to nitrogen limitations in soils, requiring a decrease in fertilizer use from 170 to 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare.
This is crucial for protecting groundwater and water resources, especially in livestock-dense regions like Weser-Ems.
New Crop Systems and Plant-Based Dominance
Instead of silage corn, Taube suggests two-year cycles of alfalfa and clover as the basis for sustainable animal feed and crop rotation. Plant-based production, he argues, is not less efficient – on the contrary, if managed without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, it can meet market needs while reducing climate and biodiversity impacts.
Society, Politics, and Farmers – A Joint Front
Taube’s criticism extends beyond EU policy and farming associations – he points to the need for real food production costs to be reflected in prices, including the removal of meat subsidies and higher prices for animal products.
“By 2050, the world simply won’t have enough land to grow animal feed at current levels. Reducing animal product consumption by two-thirds is not radical – it’s a necessity,” he concludes.
Hybrid Agriculture as a Solution
Taube proposes an innovative system of hybrid agriculture – where 50% of arable land is farmed organically, without mineral fertilizers or pesticides, and the other 50% is cultivated conventionally but under strict environmental controls. This would maintain yields, protect ecosystems, and reduce public spending.
A Message to the New Generation of Farmers
Finally, Taube calls on courageous and visionary farmers to lead the transformation with science. The question is no longer if change will happen – but how and how fast. The Alps, like all mountain regions, can become models of smart adaptation and sustainability rather than victims of climate extremes and soil erosion.
