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01/11/2010

SPIEGEL: On Thursday, International Green Week, the biggest food and agriculture convention in the world, kicks off in Berlin. At the opening, are you planning on advising Germans to eat less meat?

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SPIEGEL: Increasing meat consumption has a lot to do with climate change. A quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions is emitted in the production of food. Doesn't that present significant opportunities for emissions reductions?

Aigner: One thing is certain: Proper nutrition cannot be achieved at zero cost -- not even when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. The world population is growing rapidly, food production must increase by 70 percent by 2050. If all human beings are to have enough to eat, then we will have to accept the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.

SPIEGEL: How does that conform to German government targets aimed at further reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

Aigner: When it comes to beef production, methane emissions have been reduced by five million tons since 1990. Additionally four million tons of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, of the sort that's created by crop farming, have also been cut. But it is difficult to imagine a solution that is both climate-neutral and which provides enough food for everyone. This debate must be more honest.

SPIEGEL: German farming results in only slightly less greenhouse gas emissions than traffic on the country's roads. But no emissions reductions targets have been set for agriculture. Will the situation remain that way?

Aigner: Statistically, German agriculture accounts for around 6 percent of German emissions -- excluding the transportation of agricultural goods. There are good reasons why there are no emissions reduction targets for this sector. In any case, unilateral action is pointless, we need international progress. At Green Week, I will be meeting with over 40 ministers of agriculture to discuss how food production can be increased in a way that protects the climate as much as possible.

SPIEGEL: So the future won't hold any restrictions for German farmers?

Aigner: The politicians and farmers are all well aware that agricultural practices must become more efficient and more environmentally friendly. But please, let's not go too far with this: The biggest problem for the climate is not food production. It is the energy sector, including transportation, homes and heating.