Common agricultural policy how does it work

The more land that qualifies, the more subsidy the farmer receives. Environmentalists have criticised the scheme for rewarding intensive farming at the expense of smaller farms that may have more sustainable practices or employ more people per hectare.

The CAP does not even mention the labour rights of farmworkers, and a joint investigation by Euronews with Lighthouse Reports, Der Spiegel and Mediapart has uncovered some appalling working and living conditions on EU-subsidised farms.

The European Commission has proposed a reform to the Common Agricultural Policy that outlines nine specific objectives. The focus is now far more on protecting the environment and biodiversity: the plan features "climate change action", "environmental care", "preserving landscapes and biodiversity". At the end of June, an agreement was reached for the current system to roll over until at least the end of The CAP is reformed every seven years, and renovations have strived towards and continue to strive several goals, including: While this has long been a declared goal, many environmental NGOs have complained that the CAP has not fulfilled its environmental promises.

With the expansion of unsustainable agriculture, comes issues of biodiversity loss and chemical pollution. Today, policies are introduced to bring coherence between the Common Agricultural Policy and other EU policies that help maintain biodiversity. For example, the Bird and Habitats Directive mandates farmers to grow at least 3 different crops on their farm to promote crop diversification. Encouraging more young people to enter farming by offering additional financial support to farmers under the age of Increase support for smaller farms.

Food is essential to life, but it is also a social, cultural, and political matter. It is important to value those who make it possible for food to reach our tables, while also valuing the natural systems that allow food to be grown. The future calls for a resilient agricultural sector integrated into the European Green Deal that is economically and physically equipped to handle crises and one in which European citizens are informed and involved in how their food is grown.

What do you think would be effective ways in which everyday citizens could become more invested stakeholders in European Agriculture?

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