Discontented agricultural transformation – why are farmers protesting in Germany?

In winter 2023/2024, farmers in many European countries protested against falling incomes and rising costs, the burden of additional environmental regulations and free trade agreements. By taking their protests to the cities, farmers expressed their discontent that farms seem to be being left-behind. At the same time, they are supposed to play a central role in the transition of the food sector towards greater sustainability. However, the feelings of farmers expressed in the protests show that there are very different ideas about how agriculture should continue to develop and who is entitled to regulate and define these developments. The literature on the geographies of discontent emphasises that economic hardship is often associated with rural areas. So far, research has not analysed how the interaction of the various components of agricultural transformation and the individual situation of farmers explains their discontent. Therefore, this paper aims to explain why and which farmers expressed their discontent against the politics of agricultural transformation. To investigate the contextual factors, the study uses findings from an online-survey with 1018 farmers and 34 in-depth interviews. The analysis shows that high economic pressures, shifting agricultural policies, perceived low social appreciation, and the rejection of increasing environmental regulations lead to farmers’ discontent. • Farmers protested against economic pressures and environmental regulations in 2023/24. • Mixed-methods study reveals complex motivations behind farmer protests in Germany. • High discontent of farmers linked to fears of declining living standards and low appreciation. • Perception of unfair targeting by environmental policies fuels frustration among farmers. • Urgent need for inclusive policies addressing farmers' economic and social concerns.