The European Commission presented two strategies, both of which' success will depend on actors on the ground: farmers, forest owners, their cooperatives and other land users. "A comprehensive independent inception impact assessment must be conducted before any legislative action is taken," say Copa and Cogeca.
European farmers, forest owners and their cooperatives need alternatives to enable them to reach the ambitious targets without destroying their livelihoods and the European rural economy. A blindfolded approach will jeopardise food security, European agricultural competitiveness and farming income, which have already been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Biodiversity strategy
The Commission’s aim to establish more protected areas will reduce the area used for agricultural production and forestry in the EU. In addition to the high potential rate of land abandonment and tougher restrictions on areas that are already protected, the 10% exclusion of land from active use will have severe socio-economic and environmental consequences.
The Commission’s aim to establish more protected areas will reduce the area used for agricultural production and forestry in the EU. In addition to the high potential rate of land abandonment and tougher restrictions on areas that are already protected, the 10% exclusion of land from active use will have severe socio-economic and environmental consequences.
It is likely that the EU will outsource its environmental footprint to third countries and put pressure on high biodiversity hotspots around the world. Positive incentives and bottom-up participatory processes are necessary for the EU farming community to commit to and encourage more protected areas. Any form of protection should take into account economic, social and cultural requirements, as well as regional and local characteristics.
Instead of new red tape and limitations, we need to incentivise investments based on innovative technologies and a better functioning, fairer agri-food chain. When assessing the state of biodiversity, it must be taken into account that agriculture and forestry are not able to influence the external effects on ecosystems. Such effects include climate change, soil sealing, developments in infrastructure, invasive alien species, predators, poaching, etc.
Therefore, as long as it can be proven that sufficient efforts were made to reach the targets, taking into account available resources, farmers, forest owners and other land users should not be blamed in the event that the targets are not met.
Farm to fork strategy
Farmers need to be directly involved in the sustainable food system and require adequate support and necessary tools. The legislative proposals following this strategy should help to reduce the competitive disadvantages that currently exist in relation to production methods outside the EU and to protect high European standards that are internationally recognised.
Farmers need to be directly involved in the sustainable food system and require adequate support and necessary tools. The legislative proposals following this strategy should help to reduce the competitive disadvantages that currently exist in relation to production methods outside the EU and to protect high European standards that are internationally recognised.
“We as farmers and agri-cooperatives should be given the tools and political certainty to make the necessary investments based on EU internal and external trade. It is not only about EU financial support for investment, it is about enabling it. European farmers and agricooperatives need alternative technologies, a better functioning, fairer food chain and a closer consumer connection” pointed out the President of Cogeca, Mr Ramon Armengol.
European farmers and agri-cooperatives therefore urge the European Commission to ensure that the future Farm to Fork Strategy’s targets are accompanied by the comprehensive landuse sector inception impact assessment and a proper consultation with relevant stakeholders. This is particularly crucial for the use of the plant protection products, sales of antimicrobials, use of fertilisers and animal welfare rules. When proposing organic targets, the Commission must take into account the cumulative social and economic impact of the typically lower organic yields, market realities and decrease in conventional yields due to the lack of necessary tools.
In light of all these issues, we welcome the initiative to establish the EU Food Security Observatory. Encouraging the consumption of healthy food and a balanced diet is essential. The European farming community supports any measure encouraging consumers to adopt a diet that ensures their good health. Therefore, any type of nutrition labelling and dietary guidelines should be based on sound science. In this regard, such initiatives should take into account the utmost importance of the vital nutritional value provided by agricultural products, including those of animal origin whose contribution to a healthy diet cannot be overlooked.
CAP
As confirmed by the Commission’s internal reflections, also published today, the CAP remains the best tool to deliver on the environmental objectives set out at European level. The CAP payments and the criteria set out in the conditionality rules, such as integrated pest management, animal welfare, food safety, use of antimicrobials and landscape features reach 6.5 million farmers. This shows that the CAP has the most potential to influence the decisions taken by farmers. The targets set by the Member States within the scope of their CAP Strategic Plans should take this into account and not only deliver on the ambition of the European Green Deal, but also take into consideration what has already been achieved. For instance, since the 1990s, EU agriculture has cut its emissions by more than 20% while increasing output by 25%.
As confirmed by the Commission’s internal reflections, also published today, the CAP remains the best tool to deliver on the environmental objectives set out at European level. The CAP payments and the criteria set out in the conditionality rules, such as integrated pest management, animal welfare, food safety, use of antimicrobials and landscape features reach 6.5 million farmers. This shows that the CAP has the most potential to influence the decisions taken by farmers. The targets set by the Member States within the scope of their CAP Strategic Plans should take this into account and not only deliver on the ambition of the European Green Deal, but also take into consideration what has already been achieved. For instance, since the 1990s, EU agriculture has cut its emissions by more than 20% while increasing output by 25%.
Copa and Cogeca