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Moore as a climate saver: How farmers can farm without CO2 emissions
On November 4th, 2025, organic farmer Henning Voigt will shed light on the importance of moors for climate protection and innovative approaches to rewetting.
Moore as a climate saver: How farmers can farm without CO2 emissions
Peatlands are not only fascinating natural areas, but also crucial players in the fight against climate change. Henning Voigt, who runs an organic farm near the East German coast, has recognized this since 1996. The 350 hectares of his property are mostly very wet grassland rich in bog plants. These plants have the potential to store CO2, but few farmers are aware of this and take advantage of the opportunities that peatlands offer.
In Germany, only 2% of the former moors are in a near-natural condition, which is rather low considering the global average values. Drainage rates are also alarmingly high. Around 7% of the agriculturally used area in Germany is former moorland, which, however, causes almost 40% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, according to DW reports. Every year, almost 500,000 hectares of peatland are drained, which leads to the release of CO2 and thus promotes global warming.
Rewetting as key
Part of the solution could lie in rewetting peatlands. The majority of drained peatlands are in Europe, where various projects and initiatives aim to reclaim these valuable ecosystems. Voigt himself is involved in this area, including through a cooperation with Otto-Versand, which wants to use moor plants for sustainable packaging.
The concept of paludiculture, i.e. agriculture in moorland areas, is increasingly being discussed as a key to the sustainable use of these areas. Although it is not widespread, initial projects show promising approaches by using bog plants to generate energy or to produce building and insulation materials. The Paludi catalog helps to clearly list products and services in the field of paludiculture.
Political support and promotion
Politics is also needed to promote the rewetting of peatlands. The Ministry of the Environment and the Agricultural Pension Bank are working on a new funding guideline that is intended to support farmers in implementing it. A federal-state agreement from 2021 stipulates that all moor areas should be managed as moist as possible by 2050.
The issue of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture is also being discussed internationally. In Denmark, for example, there are plans to put a price on agricultural emissions to create incentives to reduce emissions. Suggestions include fixed purchase contracts for products from paludiculture as well as more freedom for farmers to experiment with rewetting their land.
In summary: reviving the moors is a challenge that requires a lot of commitment and inventiveness. But there are numerous ways to make a real difference in climate protection.