Three questions for …

1. The BIOFACH 2024 congress theme of the transformative creative power of women was something you feel very strongly about. Why is that?

The topic of women and how we are changing the world, and how we look at the world, is still given far too little attention, especially in the political realm. There are more and more women in positions of leadership, but there are still very, very few women in important political roles. This was made clear to me when I received my very first invitation to a meeting of food industry associations at the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture. There are about 20 such associations in Germany, and the opening salutation was: “Dear Ms. Andres, gentlemen”. And that’s the way it stayed in a great many circles.

I also see that there are substantial numbers of committed women in the organic sector. But many of our boards continue to be dominated by men. I believe that women look at sustainability and food systems in a vastly different way. And this input, and these ideas about how we are going to push sustainability, simply must get more of a hearing. Many sustainability movements are meanwhile being driven by women, for example the vegan trend or Fridays for Future. Women are the driving force for sustainability.

2. You have been involved in organic farming for many years. It has certainly often been a rocky road for you, and even now, as the Chair of BÖLW, it is without doubt not always easy. What is it that drives you?

We must urgently change our food system. Global food systems have 30% input into climate change and the food sector contributes infinitely more to species extinction. That must change. There are so many persistent forces that do not want anything in this system to change because some earn good money from it. But there are generations that will pay the price for it later. Firstly, it is not fair on these future generations, and secondly, we all know that it’s no longer 5 minutes to midnight on the Doomsday clock – we passed midnight long ago. This is what drives me to be active in BÖLW and to try to change what I can.

3. What role do the hospitality and out-of-home catering sector and BIOFACH play on the road to achieving 30% organic farming by 2030?

I think we must see the hospitality and out-of-home catering sector as an overarching political goal, because we need to feed our people better. We have costs in the health sector that are attributable to malnutrition, poor nutrition, overeating and poor diets lacking in vitamins and beneficial ingredients. This is no longer acceptable from an economic point of view. Organic food is an incredibly good vehicle for fixing this. But above all, it’s about eating well, enjoying food, and helping people understand how good healthy nutrition can taste. Many people don’t even know that anymore. And this is why the hospitality and out-of-home catering sector is so incredibly important. We need to begin by changing kitchens and meal plans, and there are excellent examples out there of how this works. Denmark is showing the way by achieving cost-neutrality for customers with relatively modest input from government institutions.

BIOFACH is where all the players that can deliver that come together, inspire one another, and establish new networks. And where caterers or purchasing officers can find out where they can source regional organic products. There are new wholesaler alliances around that can supply regional organic products across the country. In the out-of-home panel we have already determined that there is a huge interest in this. Gradually, canteens and kitchens are realising that there is another way of doing things. And I believe that anyone who loves their craft – and cooks and chefs generally come under this category – will find immense pleasure in a different way of cooking