Lobbying and agricultural policy - necessity or evil?

Join the panel of experts from the fields of practice, research, and politics at the 4th Weihenstephan Future Forum to discuss lobbying and agricultural policy. These topics will be addressed under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer (TUM Chair of Production and Resource Economics).

Consequences of agricultural policy

In December 2023, the German government announced that it would abolish the tax rebate for agricultural diesel and abolish the motor vehicle tax exemption for agricultural machinery. Around a month later, it withdrew the abolition of the motor vehicle tax exemption, and the agricultural diesel rebate, a climate-damaging subsidy, will be reintroduced from 2026.

This was the politicians' response to the massive farmer protests that followed their austerity plans, but also to intensive lobbying by agricultural interest groups. Many scientists regard the lobbying of the agricultural sector as a prime example of the enforcement of special interests. Agricultural interest groups have repeatedly succeeded in shaping transfer payments under the Common Agricultural Policy in their favour, even though consumer associations and environmental and development policy organizations are increasingly making their voices heard. Does the importance of agriculture justify the strong influence of agricultural lobby organizations on politics? Does this influence lead to decisions that are not oriented towards the common good?