Esteban Arriaga, FEBA CEO, participated in the Tafel’s Federal Food Bank Meeting (Bundestafeltreffen – BTT) held in Hanover, celebrating a milestone year for the Tafel movement in Germany: 32 years of food banks, 30 years of the national umbrella organisation Tafel Deutschland, and 10 years of the Tafel Academy.
The multi-day event brought together representatives from all levels of the Tafel network—local volunteers, regional associations, and national leaders—as well as partners from politics, business, and civil society. Participants reflected on the impact of Tafel’s work and the challenges ahead, including rising food insecurity, complex food rescue regulations, and the need for digital transformation.
Workshops organised by the Tafel Academy provided volunteers with practical tools, while dedicated sessions, such as the Women’s Network meeting, addressed important issues of representation and equality within the movement. Through these spaces for learning and exchange, the BTT highlighted the Tafel’s commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient community.
Political messages delivered at the event recognised the vital role of Tafel volunteers and underlined the need for long-term structural solutions to poverty. As Tafel Deutschland’s chairman Andreas Steppuhn stated, “Since 2021, food prices have risen by 30 percent. Income, pensions and social benefits, on the other hand, were only slightly adjusted. For people with little money, the situation has worsened dramatically.”
The meeting closed with a symbolic public gathering, the Long Table, inviting the Hanover community to come together over shared meals and music, and to stand united for dignity and solidarity.
FEBA acknowledges the important contribution of Tafel Deutschland and its 974 food banks, whose daily efforts continue to make a difference across Germany and Europe.
To learn more about Tafel Deutschland, click here.
