Agri-food production in Germany.

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The German food industry, rich in diversity and expertise, elegantly produces a diverse range of quality crops and products, from wheat and potatoes to exquisite meats and jams. On the international scene, it shines for its innovation and sustainability, representing a source of taste discoveries and a tribute to nourishing earth. In this fact sheet, we present to you the agri-food sector by sub-sector in Germany.

Agri-food areas.

In Germany, the agri-food fields cover a wide range of activities that are essential to the country's economy and its leading role in the sector in Europe.

Agricultural production :

Germany is a major producer of grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Organic farming is also well developed, meeting growing demand. In Germany, the main agricultural productions include sugar beets (26.1 million tonnes), wheat (20.2 million tonnes), barley (9.5 million tonnes), and potatoes ( 8.9 million tonnes).

Despite fluctuations, cereal production is generally increasing, with favorable prospects for the future. In 2022, Germany produced around 22 million tonnes of animal feed, marking a decrease of 1.4 million tonnes compared to the previous year, a decrease of 6%. This downward trend is part of a context where production had already fallen in 2021, with respective drops of 4.4% for feed intended for pigs (totaling 9.41 million tonnes), and 3.2%. for cattle (7.02 million tonnes), and 1.6% for poultry (6.35 million tonnes).

The only segment recording an increase was feed for sheep, goats, fish, horses and rabbits, with an increase of 3.3%. This situation highlights specific dynamics in the animal feed production sector in Germany. Significant variations from one year to another and divergent trends between types of animals exist.
The food safety system in Germany.

For many years, Germany has taken significant measures to support global food security. As the second largest contributor to the World Food Program (WFP) with around €1.2 billion in 2021, it strengthened its commitment at the G7 summit in Elmau by providing an additional $4.5 million to the Alliance for Global Food Security, contributing 450 million euros. In 2022, Germany plans to allocate around 4 billion euros to humanitarian food aid and crisis-resilient food systems.

Food processing.

The German food industry, serving 84 million consumers, generates a turnover of 237.6 billion euros, thus playing a key role in the country's economy. With more than 61,000 employees spread across more than 6,000 companies, this sector encompasses the production of meat, dairy products, bakery products, confectionery and alcoholic beverages. It actively contributes to stability, prosperity and job creation in all German regions, while maintaining its competitiveness on the global market. Technological advances such as agricultural machinery, digitalization, artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT and blockchain are major assets for improving traceability, optimizing harvests and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and packaging.

  The German food industry is very export-oriented, shipping a diverse range of products to international markets, including European Union countries, but also Asian and American markets. In the space of 22 years, German exports of agricultural and agri-food products have increased significantly, even tripling to reach an amount of 120 billion euros in 2022.

Catering and food services:

The catering sector in Germany is dynamic, ranging from traditional restaurants to trendy cafes, to collective catering services in companies, schools and institutions.

The German food industry is an essential pillar of the national economy, generating substantial income and driving economic stability, jobs and prosperity across the country. Technological progress and export efforts have contributed to a strong expansion of exports of agricultural and agri-food products, thus consolidating Germany's position on the international stage.