Tönnies spearheads debates on the meat industry's transformation.

Tönnies Symposium Sparks Debate on Meat Industry Evolution Berlin, November 8-9, 2021 – The 5th annual Tönnies Research Symposium brought together 130 distinguished attendees from academia, industry, NGOs, politics, farming, and the food retail sector in Berlin. The symposium served as a platform for sharing the latest research findings in animal welfare and discussing the future of animal husbandry in Germany. Clemens Tönnies urged stakeholders across the food supply chain, including politicians, to advance the transformation towards more sustainable and animal-friendly livestock farming, while also emphasizing his and his company's responsibility in this endeavor. The event commenced with insights from Jochen Borchert, former Federal Minister of Agriculture and head of the Competence Network for Animal Husbandry, who outlined his vision for the future of German livestock farming. He stressed the urgency for the new federal government to adopt policies that would facilitate the restructuring of livestock farming, warning against the potential loss of a historically significant consensus on environmental, animal welfare, and agricultural issues. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Bätza, Chair of the Tönnies Research Board of Trustees, officially opened the symposium. Key scientific contributions were made by Dr. Sarah Blim, Prof. Dr. Hartwig Bostedt, Mirjam Lechner, and Prof. Dr. Gerald Reiner, who shared groundbreaking findings from animal welfare research projects funded by Tönnies Research. Notably, Prof. Reiner's work at the University of Giessen revealed the genetic factors behind necrotic diseases and tail biting in pigs, offering new directions for animal breeding practices. The symposium also featured a robust discussion on the societal expectations surrounding animal welfare, climate protection, and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the need for a comprehensive overhaul of livestock farming practices. Key speakers, including Wolfram Günter, Minister of State for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment, and Agriculture of Saxony, and Werner Schwarz, President of the Schleswig-Holstein Farmers’ Association, emphasized the importance of maintaining public support for livestock farming despite varying stakeholder interests. A panel discussion with notable figures such as Hendrik Haase, a communication designer and food activist, and Tobias Heinbockel, CEO of ALDI, explored how the incoming federal government could incorporate and execute the necessary changes in the coalition agreement. The consensus underscored the need for collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts to drive the industry's transformation, a sentiment echoed by ALDI's recent "Change of Attitude" position paper. The symposium also celebrated the awarding of the €10,000 Bernd Tönnies Prize to Sigrid Born-Berg for her television report "Ethics or Label Fraud – Organic Meat – Between Animal Welfare and Free Riders," which examines the role of consumers in promoting animal welfare and climate protection. The award was presented during a gala event by jury member Martina Lenk. Adhering to strict COVID-19 safety measures, the symposium underscored the collective commitment to reshaping the future of the meat industry for the betterment of animal welfare, climate protection, and sustainable agriculture.