Decision by Environment Committee Bonn wants to call itself an organic city in future

Bonn · Bonn politicians on the Environment Committee have decided to join a network of organic cities in Germany. Among other things, urban areas are to be organically farmed. The Left Party has expressed strong criticism.

Beethoven’s city, UN city, Fairtrade city, bicycle city and now organic city; the Jamaica coalition has decided in the Environment Committee to join a network of a total to date of 14 organic cities in Germany, including Hamburg, Munich and Leipzig. Bonn would be the first city in North Rhine-Westphalia in this network if the city council agrees in a few weeks.

This is seen as certain, however, as a new part-time position has been in place for this project since the start of the year. It is staffed by a research assistant at the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, who, among other things, is to deal with questions of nutrition in day-care centres and schools in the future.

The aim of the network of organic cities is to promote organic farming, but also the processing and demand for organic food with short transport routes and regional added value. “Through the change to organic farming, the groundwater will be protected and biodiversity preserved,” says Green group spokesperson Brigitta Poppe-Reiners.

Bonn could benefit from the knowledge of others

However, it could take years before all urban areas are organically farmed, as the coalition has not set itself a target date for the conversion. Instead, cultivation is to be changed as soon as lease agreements expire. The Left Party has heavily criticised this. The group had submitted a proposal with a target date, which was rejected. The Greens said this would be difficult because of the different lengths of the lease agreements.

The CDU council group said joining the organic city network would allow Bonn to achieve as much as possible towards organic farming, regional added value and the promotion of organic products at a low cost. The cities benefit from the knowledge and experience of others – for example, in the field of organic food in childcare centres and schools. This would not be significantly more expensive in the long run, the Greens told the GA. In invitations to tender for caterers, ten per cent is already designated for organic and regional products. Original text: Nadine Klees. Translation: kc

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