Overview

• Alois Rainer, a trained butcher and Bundestag member since 2013, will assume the role of Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Homeland on May 6, succeeding Cem Özdemir of the Greens.
• Rainer has pledged to uphold the coalition agreement’s no-tax-increase clause, ruling out proposals for a meat levy and suggesting meat prices could decrease under market dynamics.
• He plans to reintroduce meat in school and kindergarten menus alongside fruits, vegetables, and vegetarian options, emphasizing the importance of balanced diets.
• Rainer advocates for incentive-based agricultural policies over regulatory controls, stating that farmers should not be treated as children needing oversight.
• Critics, including Foodwatch and Regina Halmich, have questioned Rainer’s qualifications and accused the appointment of prioritizing symbolic politics over expertise in addressing climate and animal welfare challenges.