German Organisations

AbL – Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft
(Working Group for Peasant Agriculture)
The AbL was founded in the mid-1970s. Its work focuses on lobbying for and promoting sustainable agriculture that be socially and ecologically viable.

AbL unites both farmers producing along conventional methods and farmers producing along ecological methods. The majority of them are small- and medium-sized producers. Other professional categories of AbL members include consumer, environmental or animal protection circles, but also politically committed activists who campaign for the preservation of peasant agriculture.

AbL’s main objective is to raise the general public’s awareness about the social aspects of agriculture and to prevent that one-dimensional, purely economically or ecologically founded views disregard people as agents and leave social impacts unconsidered.

AbL places a further focus on initiating projects for quality production and for regional commercialisation of agricultural produce. AbL also assists these projects with advisory support.

AbL informs its members as well as the general public about relevant issues in agricultural policy at the European, national and at federal state level. AbL positions itself within the agricultural debate and represents farmers’ interests during political consultation processes.

Contact: info@abl-ev.de

NEULAND – Association for animal- and environment-friendly Livestock Husbandry
NEULAND was founded in 1988 and has since then developed standards for animal-friendly livestock husbandry that have been recognised by various institutions. NEULAND works to develop a quality-oriented, animal- and environment-friendly livestock husbandry on peasant farms and has created its own, independent meat brand that commercialises livestock at prices guaranteeing farmers’ subsistence. The meat is sold to butcher shops, canteens and the catering sector.

Contact: http://www.neuland-fleisch.de/kontakt/index.php

BUND – Friends of the Earth Germany
The German branch of Friends of the Earth, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), was founded in 1975 as a federation of pre-existing regional groups. Some local branches date back to 1913. BUND has its origins in the nature conservation movement. Today, the organisation is one of the most influential environmental organisations in Germany. BUND has 390,000 members and supporters. Members are active in some 2,200 local and regional groups, involved with everything from lobbying work to practical nature conservation.

BUND works on all of today's major environmental issues and is a well recognized lobbyist with a high media profile. A major priority for BUND is the implementation of an intelligent and sustainable transportation policy. BUND is also campaigning for agricultural reform, i.e. diverse land use, healthy food and responsible animal husbandry.

Internationally, BUND works on climate policy and coordinates campaigns for Friends of the Earth International. In order to promote nature conservation, BUND carries out specific, topic-based campaigns every year. Not only are our groups influential on the local level, they also enable us to mobilize mass support on the national level. In addition, BUND also has its own youth branch, BUNDjugend, consisting of young people aged 25 and under, leading their own projects and campaigns.

Especially in politically turbulent times, it is encouraging to report that through practical projects with exceptional partnerships, persistence and zeal, BUND has achieved great success.

Contact: info@bund.net

Erna Graff Foundation
With its activities, the Erna Graff Foundation addresses the consumers, farmers, livestock owners and animal-rights defenders of tomorrow: they are the 10.000 children and youths that the foundation reaches through its radio project and its educational material. The goal of the foundation's projects is to teach children and youths to have greater respect for animals and their needs, as well as to educate them to become sustainable consumers with a sense of measure when it comes to buying animal products.

Contact: http://www.erna-graff-stiftung.de/cms/index.php

Bürgerinitiative Pro Weissenfels
There are plans to build Europe's largest slaughter facility in the middle of the beautiful baroque city of Weissenfels. Fight against this absurd project and join the opposition!

Contact: pro-weissenfels@freenet.de

"Bürgerinitiative pro Weißenfels"
Bündnis gegen die Schlachhoferweiterung
c/o N. Reppin