Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft

Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft (TfVL) is a German veterinary association that campaigns for a fundamental shift away from industrial livestock production toward regional, nature-conserving agriculture based on family-farm structures. Its origins lie in the Tierärztliches Forum für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft, founded in June 2012 by veterinarians concerned that the intensification of agriculture was being pursued at the expense of animal welfare and ecological foundations. More than 160 colleagues were reported to support the forum's positions. In January 2016, members of the forum established the registered association "Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft". The organization positions itself as speaking from the key professional role of veterinarians, who bear responsibility for humans, animals and nature. It argues for a system change toward regional, nature-preserving farming in peasant/bäuerlich structures. Its public work includes animal-welfare campaigns and expert commentary on practices it considers incompatible with animal protection. Among the issues it has highlighted is CO2 stunning, which it notes is regarded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as not compliant with animal welfare and is tolerated only for economic reasons; TfVL argues that purely economic reasons do not constitute a "reasonable ground" under the German Animal Welfare Act. The association also organizes and participates in conferences. It was part of the team for a animal-welfare conference titled "Sind wir noch zu retten?" ("Can we still be saved?") on the crisis of the human-nature relationship, held from 29 to 31 May at the Protestant Academy in Hofgeismar. Ahead of the International Green Week in Berlin, more than 350 veterinarians called for a rapid and binding end to tethered housing (Anbindehaltung) for cattle and dairy cows, a campaign in which TfVL was involved. It has also engaged with public debates around live animal transport, including the Karim Allah and Elbeik transport disasters, referenced in connection with the book "Die noch leben". As a civil-society association rather than a commercial company, TfVL operates primarily through advocacy, expert statements, events and member mobilization. Its website serves as the main platform for its positions and activities.

Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft emerged from a professional forum established in June 2012. The Tierärztliches Forum für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft was founded by veterinarians who argued that the development of agriculture toward intensive production was occurring at the expense of animal welfare and of ecological foundations. The forum's positions attracted support from more than 160 colleagues. In January 2016, members of the forum founded the registered association "Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft" (TfVL). The association frames its mission around the key position of veterinarians and their responsibility for humans, animals and nature, committing itself to contributing to a system change toward regional, nature-conserving agriculture in peasant structures. Since its founding, TfVL has engaged in animal-welfare advocacy and public debate. It has criticized CO2 stunning, noting that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers the method non-compliant with animal welfare and that it is tolerated only for economic reasons; TfVL argues that purely economic reasons are not a "reasonable ground" under the German Animal Welfare Act. It has participated in conferences, including the animal-welfare conference "Sind wir noch zu retten?" on the crisis of the human-nature relationship, held from 29 to 31 May at the Protestant Academy in Hofgeismar. Ahead of the International Green Week in Berlin, more than 350 veterinarians, in a campaign involving TfVL, demanded a rapid and binding end to tethered housing for cattle and dairy cows. The association has also addressed live animal transport issues, including the Karim Allah and Elbeik transport disasters referenced in connection with the book "Die noch leben".

• Tierärztliches Forum für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft founded; supported by more than 160 colleagues.

• Members of the forum found the registered association "Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft".

• TfVL participates in the animal-welfare conference "Sind wir noch zu retten?" at the Protestant Academy in Hofgeismar (29–31 May).

• Ahead of International Green Week in Berlin, more than 350 veterinarians demand a rapid and binding end to tethered housing for cattle and dairy cows.

Advocacy organization of veterinarians calling for a system change toward regional, nature-conserving, animal-friendly agriculture in peasant/family-farm structures.

1. 1Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschafttfvl.de
2. 2Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaftwikidata.org