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Controversy: Do supply chains need liability rules?

2020-12-18

The German government is struggling to pass a supply chain law. It is intended to address violations of human rights, social and environmental standards. What would the consequences be for business? A double interview with Veselina Vasileva from GEPA and economics professor Andreas Freytag.

The harvest is passed on. The path of the supply chain begins ©GaÎl GellÈ

Veselina Vasileva

Veselina Vasileva is a policy officer in the Policy Department of the Fair Trade Company GEPA. The focus of her work at GEPA is on the needs and interests of smallholder farmers and trading partners, in order to represent them in Fair Trade vis-à-vis politicians in Germany and worldwide. Since 2011, Vasileva has been active in the areas of fair trade, business and human rights, sustainable public procurement and climate change.

Andreas Freytag

Andreas Freytag is Professor of Economic Policy at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. Among other things, he heads the Schumpeter Center for the Study of Social and Economic Change there. His research focuses on foreign economic and development policy issues, particularly with regard to southern Africa. Freytag is a founding member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Africa Association.

Prof. Freytag, what is wrong with due diligence obligations on human rights, environmental and social standards?

Prof. Andreas Freytag: Nothing. Of course, it is good that companies observe due diligence obligations. But what is the point of legally prescribing them? As far as I am concerned, nothing needs to be changed; so, the burden of proof lies with Ms Vasileva.

Veselina Vasileva: At the moment, German and internationally operating companies are not liable for human rights violations or violations of environmental and social requirements along supply chains as part of their business activities. It is time to level the playing field by introducing a law that recognises the efforts of companies that practice fair trade or have already initiated measures to conduct fair business. A supply chain law in Germany would also establish legal certainty and motivate German companies to make corresponding investments. Most of them only do that if their competitors are also encouraged to do so. Legal regulations can stimulate companies to implement human rights and environmental standards.

Women at harvest: Prices are often depressed when sold to middlemen ©Gaël Gellé

Do companies need these types of motivation? And if there is a due diligence obligation, why not a legally binding one?

Freytag: The question is which company would be subject to this law – certainly also which investors ...

Vasileva: We have 3.5 million companies in Germany, of which 3.1 million are small businesses with less than ten employees – all of them are not covered by this law. If the current proposal of the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is applied to companies with 500 employees or more, it would affect 7000 companies in Germany.

Freytag: Well, an investor first complies with the rules of the host country. You are implying that this country has no rules. Why should we impose our legal system on other countries? That is paternalistic and top-down approach.

Vasileva: However, I would like to remind you of the trade system we are in. The global competitive situation and the lack of rule of law make it impossible for many developing countries to comply with international law. The list of fragile states that cannot provide for their citizens is long. The Supply Chain Act is based on internationally recognised human rights catalogues. In other words, it is not about paternalistic imposition of German law, but about supporting companies to comply with human rights along their supply chains – I do not think that we are asking for too much. It is about the gradual introduction of appropriate risk mitigation measures as part of their business operations without adding responsibility. Real life has shown for years that voluntary measures have not been sufficient to realise the self-evident.

Freytag: I do not see German companies failing to comply with human rights across the board because I simply do not have any evidence of that. The question is: What can entrepreneurs do, and where do they have access? They have access to it in the companies they run; and they are generally in favour of human rights. I also trust in the consumers. We can accomplish a lot without needing new rules. The state should help German companies become engaged and to do good. For example, this could be accomplished through more investment guarantees that could be issued more readily. These guarantees as well as export credits can be tied to proof of due diligence obligations. After all, companies want state funding and preferential treatment. By the way, problems of failed states are difficult to solve from outside, since their problems are mostly home-made. So what does that mean for the companies? Most of them are medium-sized, and they would be facing a bureaucratic mess if they were to guarantee the entire supply chain.

What is so complicated about that?

Freytag: Many of these medium-sized businesses produce goods with long supply chains, often involving up to 100 steps. Do you want to track them all to ensure that everything happens according to German standards?

Vasileva: Not according to German standards, but rather according to international law, such as the international human rights charter, the ILO core labour standards. As a representative of an SME, I can tell you that compliance with human and environmental rights is also possible for SMEs. I do not see any excessive demands at this point. German SMEs in particular are known for their outstanding quality, and they have a comprehensive quality management system. They know their supply chains and know exactly what happens within them. The principle of proportionality also applies here: The due diligence procedures to be implemented by companies should be proportional to their size and circumstances. In some cases, simple measures are already enough to remedy abuses in supply chains.

Freytag: It sounds as if German SMEs are violating human rights against their better judgement. That is not the case. That it why I think it is better to trust that something will be achieved through German involvement on the ground. We share the same goal.

Vasileva: I generally have a positive image of entrepreneurship and assume that companies want to do good. But the current economic setting is extremely unfair. Competition is very strong and price pressure is high. It is passed on to the weakest links along the supply chain. This setting makes it difficult for companies who want to do the right thing. It is a constant balancing act to comply with human rights and environmental standards in business, which, by the way, are not based on German law, but rather internationally defined standards. Therefore, we need legislation to motivate us and guide us in the right direction.

Ein Markt an der Elfenbeinküste. ©Gaël Gellé — A market in the Ivory Coast. ©Gaël Gellé

A law would not only motivate, but also punish in case of doubt.

Vasileva: It will not take effect overnight; the proposal by the BMAS and the BMZ stipulates a transitional period of three years. Under the Supply Chain Act, companies are only liable for their own fault and for foreseeable and avoidable damages. The risk-based approach applies. The idea is to first analyse and prioritise the most serious violations and develop proportionate measures to deal with them.

Freytag: I imagine it is very difficult for any company to track each step for each end product in that supply chain. This review process requires an incredible amount of effort.

Could companies work together on these reviews?

Freytag: They can definitely do that. But other issues are more important to me: The well-meaning state guiding people to do the right thing – that all sounds good. But does it reflect the realities of life for companies and local people? Will German companies possibly withdraw from these countries because they consider the risk to be too high? German companies are already hardly present in Africa. And if they stay away, others will come – from China, for example. The country is using its new Silk Road to exert influence: Chinese companies are spreading throughout Africa but also elsewhere, and they are not known for respecting human rights. Therefore, stricter rules in Germany would ultimately lead to more human rights violations there. It would be a law motivated by morality, but it should be rejected from the point of view of responsible ethics.

Is it likely that companies would pull out because of legal uncertainties?

Freytag: It raises concerns within the business community. I hear this argument over and over. And it is understandable.

Vasileva: Several studies show that other criteria mainly influence an investment decision, for example political instability or corruption.

Freytag: German companies motivate their direct investments primarily with market development. It is true that the willingness of German companies to take risks is lower than in other countries. A supply chain law would increase these local risks. Increasing risks means increasing marginal costs and decreasing willingness to invest.

Vasileva: How so?

Freytag: Because then there are more uncertainties in the following sense: Can I also unintentionally fail to comply with rules that I did not even know about and then get sued for it? There is a high risk for SMEs.

Vasileva: So far, there is no evidence that companies will actually withdraw completely from high-risk regions because of liability risks. Some are dependent on raw materials – e.g. cocoa and cobalt; others have already invested extensively in production sites. Large chocolate companies in particular are interested in finally restructuring their supply chains and avoiding child labour because of damage to their reputation. They are digging in their heels. A due diligence obligation law has been in place in France since 2017. Only very few lawsuits have been filed. No one would risk filing a lawsuit if it was not legally justified. Most human rights violations happen at the beginning of the supply chain, for example during the extraction of raw materials. Therefore, the focus has to be on the entire chain.

Are there potential risks that smallholders in African countries, for example, are displaced because they have problems meeting standards?

Vasileva: The law is not about immediately avoiding risks once they have been identified. Instead, the goal is to gradually introduce reasonable and appropriate measures and initiate a dialogue. If the identified risks cannot be solved by the companies alone, they can collaborate with trade unions and state institutions, for example through sectoral collective agreements. The idea of the law is not that contracts will then be terminated.

Freytag: But the 2019 draft of the law reads like a general indictment of German companies and a carte blanche for unfair practices associations to adopt a new business model. I have an alternative proposal on how we could address human rights violations at the beginning of supply chains: We need to change our trade policy. We need to ensure that more of the value added in supply chains is shifted to resource-rich countries. We still have a trade policy with a so-called tariff escalation. Tariffs and other trade barriers increase with the level of processing. Of course, companies and consumers want to get the raw materials to Germany as cheaply as possible, but they also want to protect our own processing. By the way, farmers in Africa are regularly exploited by local middlemen – no matter how much we pay for cocoa and coffee, it will not reach the farmers. But it would be better if the coffee was roasted in Africa and the chocolate produced in Africa. If we eventually want to allow this, the trade policy of the OECD countries must change, even if it has already improved in recent years.

Vasileva: We are on the same boat. There are several levers we can use to prevent human rights abuses in global supply chains. A Supply Chain Act is one step in that direction. And there are many other approaches that need to be initiated at the same time. We should look for ways to support a corporate culture and promote the global framework for social and environmental transformation. The principle of everything having to be bigger, faster and cheaper is not sustainable. We all know that. The current coronavirus pandemic made this perfectly clear, because it reinforces developments: Resilient supply chains secure the future viability of German companies. They are the foundation. A long-term business relationship based on partnership, as in Fair Trade, is the be-all and end-all. The Supply Chain Act would support this effort. Taking human rights violations into account within their own areas of operation is not too much to ask of German companies. Companies also bear responsibility for people and the environment in regions where they and their suppliers operate, even if they are located outside Germany.

Freytag: Resilient, sustainable supply chains are, of course, what small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany want. German SMEs are already exemplary in this respect, both at home and abroad. Therefore, I see no need for a law. I simply do not expect that such a law will only result in reasonable tests.

What is wrong with proving one’s own innocence?

Freytag: The three of us will not have to prove our innocence all the time. Are entrepreneurs generally different?

There is no evidence that anything is going wrong with us. It is different with the supply chains.

Freytag: Are you sure? Here again, it sounds like general suspicion. If there are indications of behaviour that violates human rights, action should taken. But why do I have to force someone to preventatively prove their innocence?

Because right now it is all up to the consumer to decide. Is that enough?

Freytag: I believe in responsible consumers, but they still need the necessary information. This information and consumer protection must be improved. And the public’s perception of entrepreneurs is negative – and these prejudices have made it even worse. As a society, we need to look at entrepreneurs with less prejudice.

Vasileva: Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the German economy. I do not believe that a Supply Chain Act will be passed with clauses that harm German businesses. Quite the opposite. There are already more than 70 companies in Germany that support the supply chain initiative and binding liability. Companies do not bear the responsibility alone – it is divided three ways between them, the consumers and the state. It is better to recognise that than to shift the responsibility back and forth.

Freytag: German companies that are in favour of such a law have different motives. Some want clear rules and others want higher costs for competitors: It is like the West German trade unionists who went to the East in 1990 to raise wages there so high that the East German industry lost its competitive edge for good. It protects the jobs of big companies because it puts more of a burden on their smaller competitors – the big ones already have to deal with the bureaucratic burden. “Raising rival’s costs” is the motto.

Vasileva: Speaking of shared responsibility, the big investors are also taking a close look at it. Sustainability requirements are no longer a niche topic in the financial market. Take the investment company Blackrock, for example – they invest in companies. The chairman of the board has called on the managing directors of the companies to do business ethically, socially and responsibly.

Freytag: That is good to hear. Then we really do not need legislation.

Vasileva: But there are also many companies that avoid their responsibility, rely on voluntary measures and shift the responsibility onto consumers or the state.

Freytag: If they are cut off from funding because their behaviour appears to violate human rights, they automatically assume responsibility. Ensuring that human rights are respected is first and foremost a state responsibility. With a Supply Chain Act, more and more responsibility for tasks that are actually the state’s is being delegated to companies. And governments in the failed states can sit back and relax.

Vasileva: Based on our experience as a company that has been involved in Fair Trade for decades, we understand that we will not get anywhere without commitment. Almost 3,000 companies are speaking up in favour of liability, for example the Unternehmensgrün association, which represents 350 medium-sized companies, or the European brand association AIM, which represents around 2,500 companies, including Beiersdorf, Dr. Oetker, Nestle, Nike and Puma.

Freytag: As I said, this may have to do with strategic considerations. I frequently deal with the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft), which advocates for investors in and exporters to Africa – and they are not screaming for a Supply Chain Act. They do not want more bureaucracy.

Will a Supply Chain Act go into effect?

Vasileva: The coalition agreement of the German government is talking about implementing a legal regulation if the voluntary approach has proven ineffective. The National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights is considering a law if less than 50 per cent of large companies do not comply by 2020. Currently, less than 20 per cent are compliant. The law must and will be implemented. The only question is: when and to what extent. The key is for it not to be an empty threat. For me, civil liability is a central element of an effective Supply Chain Act.

Freytag: I do not think it will be implemented on a national level – more likely on a European level. Civil liability, however, should not exist under any circumstances. Only affected people should be allowed to sue, not NGOs in Germany, which are sometimes more concerned with punishing companies than with respecting human rights. Then we will hopefully have a directive that most people will be able to live with.

Further Information

As long as consumers are faced with the challenge of consuming "properly", there are now plenty of options, e.g. the new website ichwillfair.de offers tips on fair consumption.

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By Bettina Rühl

In Togo’s capital, Lomé, home-grown rice costs almost twice as much as the imported product from Thailand. Yet there are good reasons for preferring the local product

The Big Bang is possible

Interview with Joachim von Braun

Happy youngsters in rural areas, green development and the connection to the digital age – professor Joachim von Braun believes in this future sceneraio for Africa. For three decades the agricultural scienties has been researching how politics can create prosperty on the continent.

A fresh opportunity

Interview with Lutz Hartmann

By leasing a three hundred hectare fruit plantation in Ethiopia, Lutz Hartmann has realised a long-cherished dream: to run his own business in Africa. Now he has a personal interest in the issue of Africa’s development.

Ebay Against Hunger - How an App Supports Crop Sale of Rural Small Holders in Zambia

Small holders around the world are often forced to sell their harvests below market value due to a lack of market and pricing information. A new app by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is going to change this.

A project of WFP

Story: In Blocked Chains We Trust

A contribution by Solomon King Benge

It is 2080. We are on a farm somewhere in Africa. Everything is digital. The blockchain is an omnipotent point of reference, and the farm is flourishing. But then, everything goes wrong. A dystopian short story, written exclusively for SEWOH.

Small fish with a big potential

A contribution by Paul van Zwieten

African inland fisheries are increasingly reliant on the capture of small fish species that are sundried and traded over long distances. They make an important contribution in alleviating “hidden hunger”: consumed whole, small fish are an important source of micronutrients. Only that, unfortunately, politicians haven’t yet realised this.

Do we have to dare a new food system?

A contribution by Dr. Felix zu Löwenstein (BÖLW)

Lack of seasonal workers and virus explosion in slaughterhouses, rising vegetable prices, climate crisis – all this demonstrates: Our food system is highly productive and (at least for the rich inhabitants of planet earth) guarantees an unprecedented rich and steady food supply - but it is not resilient.

"Soy can be made into more than just flour"

A report by Johanna Steinkühler (GIZ)

The soybean is a natural crop that can be used to make a lot of food. So, Tata Bi started a small processing business first on her own, then with a few other women, which provides the women with an additional source of income year-round besides selling the soybeans.

Good health is impossible without healthy food

A contribution by Heino von Meyer

Corona makes it even more difficult to achieve a world without hunger by 2030. So that this perspective does not get out of sight, Germany must play a stronger role internationally - a summary of the Strategic Advisory Group of SEWOH.

Small Farms, big money

A contribution by Agnes Kalibata

Agnes Kalibata, AGRA president since 2014 and former minister of agriculture and wildlife in Rwanda, is convinced that Africa's economy will only grow sustainably if small-scale agriculture is also seen as an opportunity.

The Rice Sector in West Africa: A Political Challenge

New insights on trade and value addition in the rice sector in West Africa

Low import tariffs, smuggling activities, unpredictable tax exemptions and weak enforcement of food safety standards: The potential of local rice value chains is undermined in West African countries.

Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in Rural Areas

Fish is important for combating malnutrition and undernourishment. But it is not only notable for its nutritional value, but also secures the livelihoods and employment for 600 million people worldwide.

A Project of GIZ

The Future of Development Politics: Voices from the Parliamentary Groups

A Contribution by Journalist Jan Rübel

Representatives of the six parliamentary groups offer their views on the future of German development cooperation.

FERTILE SOIL THROUGH THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF METHODS

In the Ethiopian highlands, much of the soil is exhausted. New fertilizers and improved seed are making it fertile again.

A Project of GIZ

SUNFLOWERS OVER TOBACCO

The farmers in Malawi have long been holding on to the cultivation of tobacco - which led to a dangerous dependency.

A Project of GIZ

THE BEST IDEAS GROW LOCALLY

Small farmers in Burkina Faso are trying to tackle big challenges locally. Local organizations are helping them.

A project of Misereor

HOW MILK PRODUCTION CHANGED A VILLAGE

Powdered milk exports pose a threat to cattle farmers in Burkina Faso. Pasmep helps shepherds increase their own milk production.

A project of Misereor

STUDY VISITS STRENGTHEN LOCAL FARMERS' ASSOCIATIONS

At Andreas Hermes Akademie, farmers from Africa and India are learning new techniques and organizational forms.

A project of Andreas Hermes Akademie

RESEARCH FOR AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS

The Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation (PARI) brings together partners working to ensure a secure food supply in Africa and India.

A project of the Center for Development Research

CASH AND VOUCHERS AGAINST HUNGER

Often food is not lacking, but the money for it is. With electronic vouchers hunger is to be controlled in the Horn of Africa.

A procet of the WFP

IRIS SCAN TECHNOLOGY FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN JORDAN

Syrian refugees in Jordan don't pay for their food with cash or credit cards, but rather with a quick glance at the camera.

A project of the WFP

INCOME STRENGTHENS PEACE

Congo is daring to rebuild. Improving nutrition and incomes will provide hope for the future, particularly for women and adolescents.

A project of Welthungerhilfe

FROM EXODUS TO MORE SELF-CONFIDENCE

In Afghanistan, thousands of domestic refugees live in poverty. A project brings education and acrobatics into their lives.

A project of Welthungerhilfe

HAY FOR THE DRY SEASON

Climate change makes the nomadic life of the Masai in Kenya more difficult. A new project introduces them to agriculture.

A project of Welthungerhilfe

GREEN BUSINESS IDEAS IN RURAL AREAS

It is above all a lack of opportunities which is driving many young Indians into the cities. An educational; program creates new opportunities in the countryside.

A project of Welthungerhilfe

TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE COCOA SECTOR

About 60 percent of the cocoa processed in Germany comes from the Ivory Coast. It is grown by 800,000 cocoa farmers, who typically only own up to five hectares of land.

A project in cooperation with the GIZ

THE FOOD ON THE TABLE DETERMINES OUR HEALTH

Cambodians eat too much rice. GIZ is joining with farmers to form multi-purpose farms, as well as advising health care centers on nutritional questions.

A project of GIZ

FROM RANCHERS TO MANUFACTURERS

How to: In Benin, farmers are opening factories now that they have learned what an entrepreneur needs to know.

A project of GIZ

DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SWEET POTATOES

For Kenyan small farmers, the harvest yields little more than they need for themselves. How the orange sweet potato can change the life of an entire region.

A Project of GIZ

SECURING THE FOOD SUPPLY IN MALAWI

Securing the food supply requires a holistic approach. That's why mango and papaya will be on the menu in Malawi.

A Project of GIZ

HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL

Brazil is world champion in the use of pesticides. In the southern part of the country, a network of organic farms is supplying municipal schools and kindergartens with healthy food.

A project of Brot für die Welt

BETTER VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR FARMERS

At vocational schools in Ethiopia, farmers learn to use their land sustainably. The curricula are tailored to climate change and droughts.

A project of IAK Agrar Consulting

MARKET FORCES, NOT DONATIONS

For more than ten years, Cotton made in Africa has been setting standards for the protection of the environment and better living conditions in the cotton industry of sub-Saharan Africa.

A project of Cotton made in Africa

STRONG TUBERS: SUPPORTING POTATOE FARMERS

Potatoes are staple foods in Kenza. Raising their profit is an important contribution to prevent malnutrition.

A Projct of GIZ

Local rather than global

An increasing number of people in Togo's capital city are consuming cheap imported food. The OADEL organization promotes local products.

A project of Brot für die Welt

HERE IS MY HOME

Where in the Ethiopian Tigray just a few years ago only parched soil and sand could be seen, grass is growing again. Previously, the inhabitants fled from famines. Today farmers use the valley for the cultivation of grain or vegetables - and have new prospects.

A project of World Vision

IMPROVED LAND GOVERNANCE

Weak land governance and insecure land rights are still major development challenges for Africa. The global program to strengthen land governance in Africa aims to strengthen marginalized groups.

A project of GIZ

SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURAL CHANGE

Researchers from the Humboldt University of Berlin are developing solutions for more socially inclusive and sustainable structure of structural change in sub-Saharan Africa.

A project of the Center for Rural Development

MAINTAINING SOIL FERTILITY

Many farmers suffer from droughts. A climate program to combat desertification helps Indian small farmers preserve soil fertility.

A project of KfW

A STRONG NETWORK

Malawi has just survived the most severe food crisis in 35 years. An initiative helped with money for food aid - the goal: to strengthen self-sufficiency.

A project of Save the Children

XtraPay - thanks to farmers

XtraPay wants to make international supply chains more transparent and establish a direct connection between producer and consumer. The bonus payment system was successfully piloted on 16 August in ten Edeka supermarkets in Braunschweig.

A project of BMZ

High on soya

The spread of monocultures is globally harmful to the environment and violates human rights; it makes for more losers than winners. But there are ways out, here one example: Smallholders in Parguay are fighting back.

A Misereor project

The human finca

Interview with Marvin Antonio Garcia Otero

In Eastern El Salvador, campesinos are cultivating a self-image to encourage rural youth to remain in rural areas. With help from Caritas, they have adjusted the cultivation methods to their soils and traditions - Marvin Antonio Garcia Otero,the deputy director of Caritas of the Diocese of San Miguel believes this is the best way to prevent rural exodus and criminality.

“Healthy ground brings good and many fruits”

Interview with Ben Sekamatte and Boaz Ogola

Africa's cotton production plays a key role in the fight against poverty. The "Cotton Made in Africa" initiative promotes sustainable cultivation - one element of which is the use of organic pesticides. Entomologist Ben Sekamatte and cotton company manager Boaz Ogola talked with Jan Rübel about soil and yields.

"The virus does not need visa"

Interview by Dr. Ahmed Ouma (CDC)

Countries across Africa coordinate their efforts in the fight against corona by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of the African Union in Addis Abeba. Until now, the curve of new infections has been successfully flattened – why? Dr. Ahmed Ouma, Deputy Director, explains the work of CDC in an interview with Tilman Wörtz.

"Pandemic increases violence against women"

Interview with Léa Rouanet

African countries still face huge gender gaps in terms of access to work and capital. What are the consequences of Corona for women in Africa? Jan Rübel interviewed Léa Rouanet on lockdowns and gender-based violence. The economist works at the Africa Gender Innovation Lab of the World Bank.

Rethinking funding

By Anna Sophia Rainer

Peasant farmers tend to fail due to bank credit limits. But investment could help them generate a sustainable income. This has given rise to an intense discussion about potential digital solutions.

5 questions to F. Patterson: Why is there more hunger?

Interview with Fraser Patterson

Every year in October, the "Welthungerhilfe" aid organisation, with the Irish "Concern Worldwide" NGO, publishes the Global Hunger Index, a tool with which the hunger situation is recorded. What are the trends - and what needs to be done?

Answers from the youth: "Leave or stay? That depends on it!"

GIZ study; conducted by Geopoll

Does Africa's youth want to live in the city or in the country? Which career path seems particularly attractive? And how optimistic are the young people about the future? Young adults from rural areas answered these questions by SMS.

"Agriculture can become a job engine"

Interview with Reiner Klingholz

How can agriculture modernise Africa? And does the road to the cities really lead out of poverty? Dr. Reiner Klingholz from the Berlin Institute for Population and Development in conversation with Jan Rübel .

5 questions to S. Fan: Where are the new roads?

Interview with Shenggen Fan

Shortly before ending his position as Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPR) Dr. Shenggen Fan talks about the reforms and new modes of operation needed to achieve global food security in the coming decade.

A classroom in the Garden of Eden

By Iris Manner

Deforestation harms people and the environment. With nurseries, farmers can earn money and do good. You just have to know how to do it

No dirty dealing

Von Marlis Lindecke

Shit Business is Serious Business: A successful cooperation between research and the private sector.

New campaign for women: "Poverty is sexist"

Interview with Stephan Exo-Kreischer

This is a benchmark for everybody: More rights for women are a very influencing solution in the struggle against extreme poverty and hunger worldwide, says Stephan Exo-Kreischer, Director of ONE Germany. The organisation specialises in political campaigning as a lever for sustainable change.

Podcast: Fighting world hunger together

Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Podcast of the Federal Government

At the start of World Food Week around World Food Day on 16 October, Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the fight against global hunger will only be successful with international responsibility and solidarity (german only).

Support for sustainable start-ups

Companies in Africa that need financing between $20,000 and $200,000 find relatively few investors, as this sector is too large for microcredit and too small for institutional investors. This creates a "gap in the middle" where companies have limited options. A project of the World Resource Institute provides a remedy with the Landaccelerator 2020.

A World Resources Institute project

Climate Adaptation Summit 2021: ‘We can do better’

Event report by Jan Rübel (Zeitenspiegel)

The first Climate Adaptation Summit put climate adaptation at the center of politics for the first time. The virtual meeting united global players with one goal: building resilience is just as important as climate protection itself. Around 15,000 participants discussed direct proposals.

Mr. Samimi, what is environmental change doing to Africa?

Interview with Cyrus Samimi (IAS)

Environmental change is having a particularly strong impact on the African continent. Its landscapes see both negative and positive processes. What is science's view of this? A conversation with Cyrus Samimi about mobility for livelihoods, urban gardening and dealing with nature.

“We have to prepare for the unexpected”

Interview with Dr Maria Flachsbarth (BMZ)

In August, Germany’s development ministry set up a division concentrating on One Health topics. Parliamentary State Secretary Maria Flachsbarth on knowledge gaps at the human-animal-environmental interface, the link between One Health and food security, and lessons learnt from previous pandemics.

Resilience in times of crisis

Yemen is currently experiencing one of the worst disasters, due to war, hunger and disease outbreaks. The GIZ is locally engaged to improve the nutrition and resilience of Yemenites.

A project of GIZ

Africa's rapid economic transformation

A report by T. S. Jayne, A. Adelaja and R. Mkandawire

Thirty years ago, Africa was synonymous with war, famine and poverty. That narrative is clearly outdated. African living standards are rising remarkably fast. Our authors are convinced that improving education and entrepreneurship will ensure irreversible progress in the region even as it confronts COVID-19.

Video: 4 Questions to Claudia Makdristo

A video clip by Seedstars

Startups are booming in African agriculture. What are the current trend and challenges – and can other regions benefit from innovative approaches? A Video-Interview with Claudia Makadristo, Regional Manager of Seedstars

Turning many into one: CGIAR network restructures

A contribution by Jan Rübel

International agricultural research is responding to new challenges: Their advisory group is undergoing a fundamental reform process and unites knowledge, partnerships and physical assets into OneCGIAR.

What it takes now

A contribution by Heike Baumüller

Artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain are the hottest topics of our time. The digital transformation of the African agricultural sector is ready for take-off. What will it take for the future of technology to hit the ground running?

The digitised farmyard

An interactive graphic Jan Rübel

Lots of apps are entering the market, but what really makes sense? For African agriculture, some of it seems like a gimmick, some like a real step forward. So this is what a smallholder farm in Africa could look like today - with the help of smartphones, internet and electricity.

"We are not Uber for tractors"

Interview with Jehiel Oliver

Jehiel Oliver was a successful consultant. One day, he quit his job in investment banking to become a social entrepreneur. His mission: tractors for Africa. Rental tractors. What gave him that idea? Find out in his interview with Jan Rübel.

Africa's digital disruption

Graphics

What Africa is experiencing in the course of digitisation is a disruption. Here three steps are taken in one, there you remain. In any case, the changes are enormous and bring some surprises. A graphic walk.

An opportunity for the continent

A contribution by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Africa’s population is young and ready to take its destiny into its own hands. Agriculture offers amazing opportunities in this regard. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation wants to support the next generation in this way.

"Farmers are smart"

Interview with Maria Andrade

From the lab to the masses: Maria Andrade bred varieties of biofortified sweet potatoes which are now widely used all over the continent. She sets her hope on the transformation of African agriculture.

The farmes themselves are the benchmark

A contribution by Andreas Quiring

Strong farmes are the key to a self-determined, sustainable development. Social innovations can help make the farmers’ actual needs the benchmark.

Revolutionising Humanitarian Aid

A contribution by Ralf Südhoff

Financial innovations can prevent a crisis turning into a catastrophe. The livelihoods of people in affected areas may well depend on intervention before a crisis – and on risk funds.

Doing More With Less

A contribution by Jochen Moninger

Innovation is the only way to end hunger worldwide by the deadline we have set ourselves. The secret lies in networking and sharing ideas – and several initiatives are already leading by example.

Small-scale farmers’ responses to COVID-19 related restrictions

A study by SLE

The lockdown due to COVID-19 hit the economy hard - including agriculture in particular with its supply chains and sales markets. What creative coping strategies have those affected found? The Seminar for Rural Development has begun a research study on th

Building our food systems back better

A contribution by Jes Weigelt and Alexander Müller

What is required to make food systems provide sufficient, healthy food while not harming the planet? How should food security be maintained given the threat posed by climate change? Our authors look at some aspects of tomorrow’s food systems against the backdrop of the corona crisis.

"We must mobilise all available resources"

A contribution by Ismahane Elouafi (ICBA)

Freshwater deficits are affecting more and more people throughout the world. In order to counter this, our global food system will have to change, our author maintains. A case for more research on alternative crops and smart water solutions.

Video diaries in the days of Corona: Voices from the ground

A contribution by Sarah D´haen & Alexander Müller, Louisa Nelle, Bruno St. Jaques, Sarah Kirangu-Wissler and Matteo Lattanzi (TMG)

Young farmers’ insights on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa @CovidFoodFuture and video diaries from Nairobi’s informal settlements.

Resilient small-scale agriculture: A key in global crises

A contribution by Kerstin Weber and Brit Reichelt-Zolho (WWF)

Biodiversity and sustainable agriculture ensure the nutrition of whole societies. But there is more: These two factors also provide better protection against the outbreak of dangerous pandemics. Hence, the question of preserving ecosystems is becoming a global survival issue.

One Health – What we are learning from the Corona crisis

A contribution by Dr. May Hokan and Dr. Arnulf Köhncke (WWF)

Due to the coronavirus crisis, the connection between human and animal health has gained new attention. Politicians and scientists are joining forces to propagate the solution: One Health. But what is behind the concept? And can it also guarantee food security for all people worldwide?

A global signpost: What way is the market, please?

A contribution by the World Food Programme

There is a clear global task: We need to feed nine billion people by 2050. We, the people of Earth, must produce more food and waste less. That is the top priority of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), too - the description of a challenge.

The Life of Their Dreams - What Children Want

Interview with Gnininkaboka Dabiré and Innocent Somé

Later on you want to become a farmer yourself, or would you prefer to take up another profession? Two young people from Burkina-Faso talked to representatives of the Dreyer Foundation about their parents' farms, the profession of farmer and their own plans for the future.

The Forest Maker and his director

Double interview with Tony Rinaudo and Volker Schlöndorff

Tony Rinaudo uses conventional reforestation methods to plant millions and millions of trees – and Volker Schlöndorff is filming a cinema documentary about the Australian. The outcome so far: An educational film on behalf of the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development).

The state of food security in Cape Town and St. Helena Bay

A study by Markus Hanisch, Agustina Malvido, Johanna Hansmann, Alexander Mewes, Moritz Reigl, Nicole Paganini (SLE)

Post-Covid-19 lockdown: How food governance processes could include marginalised communities - an extract of the results of an SLE study applying digital and participatory methods.

Green from the growth container

A contribution by Maria Smentek (WFP)

If there is a lack of fertile soil and rain, hunger breaks out quickly. Maria Smentek from the World Food Programme (WFP) explains how farmers and pastoralists can counter climate change with hydroponic-systems.

Edible bugs - the new beef?

A contribution by Marwa Shumo

Insect farming is economical and environmentally sustainable, they are high in protein and they live on agricultural waste. Marwa Abdel Hamid Shumo thinks: They are the best weapon to combat hunger

The hype about urban gardening: farmers or hobby gardeners?

A contribution by Stig Tanzmann

Urban gardening is becoming increasingly popular in northern metropoles. People who consider themselves part of a green movement are establishing productive gardens in the city, for example on rooftops or in vacant lots. In severely impoverished regions of the global South, urban agriculture is a component of the food strategy.

How the self-help approach empowers smallholder women

A report by INEF and Kindernothilfe

Supporting groups of smallholding women substantially contributes to strengthen rural operations economically. The organisation and associated group activities can help to reduce extreme poverty and improve the food situation.

Silicon Valley for Africa’s agricultural start-ups

A contribution by Michel Bernhardt (GIZ)

The project “Scaling digital agriculture innovations through start-ups” (SAIS) supports Africans going into business in the agricultural and food sector in scaling their digital innovations and thus reaching out to a larger number of users.

School Feeding: A unique platform to address gender inequalities

A contribution by Carmen Burbano de Lara (WFP)

Besides the well known impacts of Covid19 lockdowns for the adult population, the associated school closures led to 90 percent of the world’s children with no access to schools. However, school meals are in often the only daily meal for children. Without access to this safety net, issues like hunger, poverty and malnutrition are exacerbated for hundreds of millions of children.

Gender equality: Essential for food and nutrition security

A contribution by Carsta Neuenroth (BfdW)

The majority of producers in developing countries are women. Although they contribute significantly to the food security of their families, they remain chronically disadvantaged in male-dominated agriculture in terms of access to land, credit, technology and education.

Success story allotment garden: Food supply and women's empowerment

A contribution by Nadine Babatounde and Anne Floquet (MISEREOR)

To prevent malnutrition among young children and strengthen the role of women in their communities, Misereor, together with the local non-governmental organisation CEBEDES, is implementing a programme on integrated home gardens in Benin - a series of pictures.

It all comes down to the young population

A contribution by Jan Rübel

What happens when young people leave the rural areas? How can the region achieve what is referred to as the demographic bonus – and how can it reap the benefits of the demographic dividend? A look at demography shows the following: What is most important is promoting women’s rights and education.

A new U.S. Africa policy?

An article by Jan Rübel

After four years of Donald Trump in the White House, it is time to take stock: What policies did the Republican government pursue in African regions? And what will change in favor of Joe Biden after the election decision? Here is an evaluation.

Not waiting for a savior

An article by Lidet Tadesse

While Africa is the least affected region by Covid-19 so far, the number of confirmed cases and deaths on the continent is quickly rising. Despite the challenges many African countries continue to face, the African response to the coronavirus pandemic displays innovation and ingenuity.

ONE WORLD no hunger - Meet the people driving rural transformation

A program by the partners of the special initiative One World no Hunger

The future is rural. On September 24, meet leaders and visionaries from Africa and South Asia who will enter into dialogue with european key actors.

Join uns here to meet the people.

Hunger must not be a consequence of the epidemic!

A contribution by Michael Brüntrup (DIE)

Even though COVID-19 poses a threat to the health of humanity, the reaction to the pandemic must not cause more suffering than the disease itself. This is particularly relevant for poor developing countries, where the impact of the corona crisis on food security is even more severe!

"Without peace, there will be no development"

Interview with Karina Mroß (DIE)

What contribution does development cooperation make to conflict prevention? What can it do for sustainable peace? Political scientist Karina Mroß talks to Raphael Thelen about post-conflict societies and their chances for peaceful development.

An investment in Africa's future

A contritbution by Essa Chanie Mussa (University of Gondar)

Rural youth need viable livelihood opportunities to escape out of poverty and realize their aspirations. How could they be helped to fully unleash their potential? This is an aloud call that needs novel strategies among governments, policy makers, and international development partners and donors.

Human Rights, Land and Rural Development

A contribution by Michael Windfuhr (German Institute for Human Rights)

Land rights are no longer governed by the law of the strongest. That is what the international community has agreed to. Governments and private companies have a duty to respect human rights and avoid corruption.

Land is Crucial for Development

A contribution by Roselyn Korleh and M. Sahr Nouwah (WHH)

The Liberian town of Kinjor is a picture-book example for what happens, if land rights aren’t protected, and it illustrates how to move forward from there. The keyword: Multi-Actor Partnership

A new attempt at Africa's industrialization?

A contribution by Helmut Asche

Afrika is about ready. There are promising approaches for a sustainable industrialization. However, the path poses challenges to the continent.

Can we win the race against deforestation?

Interview with Bernadette Arakwiye und Salima Mahamoudou (World Resources Institute)

Deforestation is leading to a shortage of ressources. What are the options for counteracting? A conversation with Bernadette Arakwiye and Salima Mahamoudou about renaturation and the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

From Berlin to Yen Bai: 10,000 trees for Vietnam

A contribution by GIZ and BMZ

It began with clicks at a trade fair and ends with concrete reforestation: a campaign at the Green Week in Berlin is now enriching the forests of the Yen Bai Province in Vietnam. A chronicle of an education about climatic relevance to concrete action - and about the short distances on our planet.

Planetary Health: Recommendations for a Post-Pandemic World

A contribution by Dr. Kathleen Mar and Dr. Nicole de Paula

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, health is receiving unprecedented public and political attention. Yet the fact that climate change is also affecting the environmental and social determinants of health in a profound and far-reaching way deserves further recognition.

"Extreme is the new normal"

A report by Alexander Müller and Jes Weigelt (TMG)

As the climate changes, the population of Africa is growing and fertile land and jobs are becoming scarcer. New ways are currently leading to urbanisation of agriculture and a new mid-sized sector in the countryside

This is how developing countries can adapt better to droughts

A contribution by Michael Brüntrup (DIE) und Daniel Tsegai (UNCCD)

Droughts are the natural disasters with far-reaching negative consequences. While rich countries are still vulnerable to drought, famines are no longer found.

(c) Christof Krackhardt/Brot für die Welt

Together and resourceful against worldwide hunger

A contribution by Brot für die Welt

Climate change disturbs the climate in Ethiopia. The answer from small farmers in the northern region is convincing: diversify!

Microinsurance against climate change

A contribution by Claudia Voß

Climate change is destroying development progress in many places. The clever interaction of digitalisation and the insurance industry protects affected small farmers.

Hunger is caused by people, not the climate

Interview with Jacob Schewe (PIK)

A study by the World Bank predicts that millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa will have to leave their homelands because of climate change. We have spoken with one of the authors

(c) Christoph Püschner/Brot für die Welt

The North bears the responsibility, the South bears the burden

A report by Susanne Neubert (SLE)

Adaptation to climate change can be achieved by making agriculture more environmentally sustainable – if the rich countries also reduce their emissions

What do you expect from this Pre Summit, Mr. Haddad?

Interview with Lawrence Haddad (GAIN)

Nutrition experts from all over the world are coming together in Rome. They are not only distilling 2000 ideas to improve food systems - they are also preparing for the big UN summit in New York in September. An interview.

Mr. Campari, how do we create sustainable food systems?

Interview with Joao Campari (WWF)

Journalist Jan Rübel spoke with Joao Campari ahead of the UNFSS Pre-Summit. The Chair of Action Track 3 highlights key challenges in transforming existing food systems towards sustainable production and shares his expectations for the Summit.

Land Rights, Gender and Soil Fertility in Benin

A contribution by Dr. Karin Gaesing and Prof. Dr. Frank Bliss (INEF)

Especially in densely populated areas, land pressure leads to overexploitation of available land and a lack of conservation measures. The West African country of Benin, with heavily depleted soils in many places, is no exception.

Poverty Power Hunger

Publication of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and TMG ThinkTank for Sustainability.

The global community is failing in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. This is shown in the factsheet "Poverty Makes Hunger" published by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the TMG ThinkTank for Sustainability. Read the full report here.

How do you campaign “Food Systems”?

Interview with Paul Newnham, Director of the SDG 2 Advocacy Hub.

The UN Food Systems pre-Summit in Rome dealt with transforming the ways of our nutrition. How do you bring that to a broad public? Questions to Paul Newnham, the Director of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 Advocacy Hub.

UNFSS Pre-Summit: What did it achieve?

Interview with Martina Fleckenstein (WWF), Michael Kühn (WHH) and Christel Weller-Molongua (GIZ)

After the summit means pre-summit: It was the first time that the United Nations held a summit on food systems. Martina Fleckenstein, Michael Kühn and Christel Weller-Molongua reviewed the situation in this joint interview.

How can the private sector prevent food loss and waste?

An interview with David Brand (GIZ)

From a circular food system in Rwanda to functioning cooled transports in Kenya: The lab of tomorrow addresses development challenges such as preventing food loss and waste

Food System Transformation Starts and Ends with Diversity

A Contribution by Emile Frison and Nick Jacobs (IPES-Food)

While having failed to solve the hunger problem, industrial agriculture appears to be causing additional ones both in environmental and health terms. Emile Frison and Nick Jacobs call for a transformation.

How to Combat Hunger in Times of Climate Crisis?

An Interview with Martin Frick (WFP)

The climate crisis fuels world hunger. What needs to change in the global fight against hunger, and which role plays humanitarian aid in international development cooperation?

Engaging the Community to Solve the Bushmeat Crisis

A Contribution by the Forestry Research Institute Nigeria

The 'Domestication of Small Monogastric and Ruminant Animals' (DSMR) project led by a Nigerian research institute works with local communities to solve the bushmeat crisis.

From lost products to safe food - Innovations from Zambia

A contribution by GIZ

In Zambia, innovative approaches are used to address the problem of post-harvest losses in the groundnut value chain. GIZ's Rapid Loss Appraisal Tool (RLAT) can help to develop more such approaches.

Youth Employment in Rural Areas

The world’s population keeps on growing; with this rise comes an increased need for food as well as productive employment opportunities. Offering young people in rural areas better employment prospects is one of the objectives of the sector project. The young population is the key to a modern and efficient agricultural economy.

A project of GIZ

How Smallholders became Commodity Suppliers

Small farmers are often left behind in African agriculture. Access to markets and improved competitiveness can only be achieved if the small farms join forces. But those affected in partner countries are often at a loss as to how to implement cooperative models. Here, the BMZ provides support through the SEWOH ONE World – NO Hunger initiative and the Social Structure Promotion (Sozialstrukturförderung).

A project by Deutscher Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband e. V.

Land Rights for Secure Livelihoods: My Land is My Life

Three quarters of the world's population do not have secure land rights, which hinders investment and innovation. The project "Improvement of Livelihood and Food Security" supports smallholder farmers in acquiring land.

A project of GIZ

A Climate of Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels the Hunger

A photo reportage by the Zeitenspiegel agency

Every one degree Celsius rise in temperature increases the risk of conflict by two to ten percent. The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis, as the photos by Christoph Püschner and Frank Schultze illustrate.

City, Country, Sea: 6 Innovations in the Fight Against Climate Change

A listicle for climate-neutral agriculture

Vertically growing plants, magnetic cotton. Hairy leftovers fertilizing fields, tractors running on algae? These six innovations could lead agriculture’s next Green Revolution!

No Food Security Without Climate Protection

A Contribution by Michael Kühn (WHH)

Climate change already affects the daily lives of people in the Global South. What are the challenges they face and what do these imply for negotiations at the climate conference in Glasgow?

Innovate2030: Digital Ideas against Urban Climate Change

A Call by BMZ and Partners

Innovate2030 is looking for creative people from around the world to develop smart and innovative solutions against climate change in cities. Initiated by the Make IT-Alliance.

What is Our Food Worth to Us?

A Contribution by the TMG Think Tank for Sustainability

Towards integrated accounting standards in the food and farming sector with the help of True Cost Accounting (TCA).

‘None of the Three Traffic Light Coalition Parties is Close to the Paris Agreement’

An Interview with Leonie Bremer (FFF)

At the climate conference in Glasgow, activists from various groups protested again – Leonie Bremer from ‘Fridays for Future’ was there too. How can climate protection and development cooperation work hand in hand?

ICTforAg 2022: Conference to Advance Resilience, Nutrition and Agriculture-led Growth

An Initiative of the GIZ Fond i4Ag

In March 2022, the virtual conference ICTforAg summons leading actors in the agrartechnology and food sector from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Held over two days, the conference focuses on the four core themes of local development, climate, inclusion and data sovereignty in a digital world.

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Controversy: Do supply chains need liability rules?

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