European farmers will face lower bases and less foreign competition, which is a new vision of agricultural promises, as environmental activists warn against ignoring the main green proposals.
The European Union’s new agriculture strategy will reform the sector with targeted financial support, strict import standards and transform from “conditions to incentives” in the green strings associated with the massive support scheme, according to the report published on Wednesday.
The strategy is with better wages and conditions, and suggests targeting support to help young farmers. He also calls for more strict rules on unfair commercial practices, declaring that “practices in which farmers are forced to sell costs below will not be tolerated.”
However, the document stops an end proposal for payments based on the size of the farm and does not mention a “fair transfer box” to help farmers clean their pollution. The proposals were among the main recommendations in the report that was presented by a wide range of stakeholders in the food chain at the request of the committee last year.
“When we got farmers’ unions, environmental experts, scientists, merchants and food companies around the same table, everyone was clear – the food and agriculture system in Europe must change. But it seems that” vision “of the committee cannot You see it.
Activists said the proposed reforms of the support plan known as the joint agricultural policy (CAP) did not go far away. They also expressed fears that more environmental rules will be reduced in the name of simplification, after many rules that protect, delete or watered in nature were delayed.
Julia Redo, from WWF, the European Union, said the new vision was a “mysterious road map” that took “very shy steps” towards more just and sustainable food supply chains.
“Some positive elements, such as commitment to stronger enforcement of green legislation and financial incentives for farmers who exceed the current environmental requirements. However, in an attempt to satisfy everyone, the European Commission failed to address critical issues, such as the necessary increase in environmental payments.”
Cuba and Kojka, the largest agricultural lobby in Europe, welcomed the proposal, describing it as a “pragmatic reset”, and said that the agricultural policy of the committee regained its bearings. “However, it fails to address the elephant in the room: the budget of the future maximum and the resources needed to finance this package of measures,” they added.
European farms are cleaned as a vital step for long -term health for the sector, as well as to protect wildlife and prevent the planet from heating. Most European lands are unhealthy, according to the European Environment Agency (EA), with 60-75 % contain a lot of nitrogen and 80 % contain pesticide residue. The agency estimated the societal cost of the deteriorating soil at about 50 billion euros annually.
“By neglecting the imposition of vital environmental laws and continuing to convert subsidies into the richest landowners, this plan flows from farmers who give our natural scenery,” said Marcelda Daskale of Birdlife Eurupe. “Without decisive measures to restore nature and adapt to climatic facts, food security in Europe is suspended with a thread.”
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Activists also criticized the vision of failure to include one of the most surprising conclusions that come out of the strategic dialogue, which realized the issue of eating less meat. Participants acknowledged that Europeans eat more animal protein than scientists recommend, and they agreed that support is needed to restore meals balance towards plant proteins.
“European meals are mainly formed through an industrial diet that makes it difficult for people to choose healthy and sustainable food,” said Julia Christian of non -governmental fern. “the [commission’s] The vision was absent from a vital opportunity to address this. Instead of supporting measures to encourage consumers to eat more vegetables, legumes and fruits … The committee focused almost exclusively on agricultural production, and lost the largest image of diet repair. “
Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture of the European Commission, said the proposals will make the sector more sustainable while maintaining it attractive and good enough to join young people to join. He pointed out that there was “a lot of controversy” over agriculture, food and the environment.
“It is extremely important to take this seriously, but we find solutions with farmers, with food producers,” said Hansen, the son of one of the farmers. “This will be done with the dialogue, instead of focusing on simple and explicit goals.”