BERLIN: Florian Busmann used to enjoy sausages and steak on the barbecue in summer, but these days he prefers meat substitutes and grilled vegetables like aubergines and peppers.
“Eating less meat is definitely a contribution to both the environment and animals. And it is also healthy,” the 28-year-old local government worker told AFP at the Vegan Summer Festival in Berlin. Despite being known for their love of sausages and schnitzel, Germans have been steadily eating less meat over the past few years.
Figures from the German Agriculture Ministry show that meat consumption dropped to 52 kilogrammes (115 pounds) per person in 2022, the lowest since the calculations began in 1989.
In comparison, the figure stood at around 61 kilogrammes per person just five years ago.
Worries over animal welfare, climate change and higher prices appear to have driven consumers to look for alternatives to meat to fill their plates. Around 10 percent of Germans are vegetarian, according to the Agriculture Ministry, compared with six percent in 2018. Since 2021, Germany has even had a vegetarian agriculture minister, the Green party’s Cem Ozdemir — much to the dismay of many in the meat industry. –Agencies
