Bioland e.V.

Bioland as a pioneer among the farming associations

Bioland has been working for many years on sustainable agriculture that integrates, protects and preserves biodiversity. Organic farming has many advantages for the preservation and promotion of biodiversity, as numerous studies have shown. However, it is also clear that this farming method alone is not enough. Further measures are needed to protect biodiversity.

This is why Bioland was the first German farming association to define comprehensive guidelines in 2019 to protect and promote biodiversity on our farms. Bioland members can choose from a catalog of individual measures which are scored according to their impact; each farm must achieve at least one hundred biodiversity points.

The 7 Bioland principles

The promotion of biodiversity is also emphasized in the 5^th of our 7 Bioland principles: “Biologische Vielfalt in der Landwirtschaft fördern” (promoting biological diversity in agriculture). A colorful campaign of explanatory videos, social media posts and vivid illustrations informs consumers in detail how biodiversity is being valued and promoted on our farms. An example video can be viewed at the following link: Bioland-Prinzip 5: Biologische Vielfalt in der Landwirtschaft fördern - Biodiversität, Artenvielfalt

 Biodiversity needs a strong lobby

The smallest creatures make a big difference in agriculture. They pollinate the majority of our crops and ensure healthy ecosystems. And yet insects are highly endangered in Germany.

We founded the insect lobby to give them a voice and protect their needs - with a broad base to reach as many people as possible. For agriculture that strengthens biodiversity and preserves the ecosystem. You can find out more about the campaign here: Bioland 

Projects, network and education

“Biobauern Naturschutz GmbH” (BNG) - a non-profit subsidiary of the Bavarian regional chapter of Bioland - was founded in 2017 under the lead of Katharina Schertler. Its aim is to integrate nature conservation and environmental protection into agricultural practices and to provide farmers with expert and practical support. In addition to many regional projects, one of our specialties is the long-standing protection of field weeds.

Of course, we are also politically committed to the preservation of species, to diversity and biodiversity, and we approach politicians accordingly. Together with the “Deutscher Naturschutzring” and other environmental, nature and animal protection organizations, we have formulated clear political demands.

We are also involved in numerous other projects, such as the „Landwirtschaft für Artenvielfalt“ program where we team up with the WWF and EDEKA. Since 2012, all project partners have been working to demonstrably increase the diversity of animal and plant species in agricultural habitats. The „Initiative für den ökologischen Tafelobstanbau“, which was founded in 2020, has been particularly successful within the program. More than 65 organic farms from three different growing regions in Germany are participating in this initiative - from the Altes Land in the north to the Rhineland in the west all the way south toLake Constance. The organic diversity measures in fruit tree cultures are based on the Bioland guidelines.  

With our membership of “Biodiversity in Good Company”, we would like to further expand our network, exchange ideas with other companies and help shape the future of biodiversity in agriculture together.