Germany is famous for innovative farming and the high quality of agricultural products. However, the increasingly intensive land use by agriculture has led to deterioration of the soil quality. This manifests itself in structural decay and impoverishment of soil life. This deterioration threatens future food production and has great impact on the quality of ground and surface water, the landscape, nature and biodiversity, and, in a broader sense, quality of life and working conditions in rural areas. These facts have resulted in the German initiative: the innovative ‘Circular Agriculture’-system, a solution for securing the continuity of the food chain and the environment.

GERMAN FARMERS FRONTRUNNER IN CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE

Already 50% of the German farmers in 2020 work according to the “Circular Agriculture”-system and more to come, since the German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture believes this is the only way to secure the future of the food supply. She states in 2018: “It now becomes the challenge to produce our food with as few raw materials as possible and therefore less harmful to the environment. To use all products that leave the company as an end product or as a raw material for other links in the cycle. Circular agriculture does justice to nature and also makes a good living. For this vision, we have had many conversations with farmers, horticulturalists and various social organizations. Based on these conversations, I am convinced that we can secure the future of our food supply if we switch to circular agriculture.“

This process includes a diet with high structure and low protein for the cattle, reduced use of fertilizers, spreading animal manure only above ground and an emphasis on increased soil utilization of nitrogen from animal manure. Business operations are aimed at making optimal use of the company’s resources and stocks and making the least possible use of external sources. Consequently, to guarantee the future harvests of the land and to maintain the high quality of the natural ecosystems. Rock-Hides, as a German-based company, is proud of this German policy and believes this agricultural system is the long-term solution to secure our food supply chain and to secure the fertility of our lands.

WATCH HERE THE DUTCH CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE MOVIE

“CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE” ENSURES VITAL SOIL & QUALITY OF THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT

Current agriculture depends for its own survival on a healthy, vital soil, on valued social integration and on the care for the quality of the living environment. Circular agriculture is optimizing production with the selective use of external inputs, realizing long-term income and respecting natural systems (Stuiver & Verhoeven, 2010). Globally, the quality of ground and surface water is threatened in many places by surface and subsurface run-off of nitrogen and phosphate, which is applied via fertilizers and manure. In addition, ammonia and nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) lead to negative effects on nature and contribute to climate change. Circular agriculture provides a solution to the side-effects of the intensification of agriculture and therefore has a positive impact in reducing threats to the landscape, nature, biodiversity, and overall environmental quality.

PRODUCTS IN LINE WITH THE CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE CONCEPT

Rock-hide believes that optimizing production with the minimum use of external inputs, realizing long-term income, and respecting natural systems is the only sustainable way forward. For this reason, Rock-hide chooses, in line with this concept, to transform by-products from the slaughter industry into high-quality products. Rock-hide’s hides and skins have the world’s highest quality due to strict animal welfare regulations controlled and enforced by the government of Germany.

The assurance of the quality and origin of the skins is regulated by German slaughterhouses through recognized national and international quality marks and certified quality management systems such as IFS and FSSC 22000. To further ensure full transparency and safety within the food chain, Rock-hide is certified according to ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 standards.

Rock-hide chooses to guarantee long-term sustainable quality by making the well-considered decision to operate fully in line with the Circular Agriculture concept.