Which Agriculture Policy Europe?

The outgoing European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski has recently confirmed the continuation of current policies in the agricultural sector. As his term comes to an end, the European agricultural community is curious about the directions and decisions his successor will take.

Maintaining the continuity of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) remains a priority, with a particular focus on sustainability, innovation, and economic support for farmers. However, with climate change and increasing global challenges, the new Commissioner will have the difficult task of adapting and improving these policies to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for European agriculture.

The community is eagerly awaiting the program of the next Commissioner and any new strategies that might be introduced to address the emerging challenges in the sector.

Lets see how Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski highlighted the key elements of the current CAP.

1. Four S Principle

• Security:
  • Ensure the availability and affordability of food, recognizing it as the primary function of agriculture and a fundamental requirement for citizens.
  • Base all future policy developments, legal regulations, and investment tools on detailed analyses of potential impacts on agricultural activities and food security.
• Stability:
  • Ensure stable livelihoods for farmers and rural communities, as the CAP currently accounts for 23% of EU farm income.
  • Address the significant decrease in the number of farms, with a loss of 3 million farms from 2010 to 2020, and ensure fair income for farmers, as agricultural income is only 60% of the average wage in the rest of the economy.
  • Increase support levels for young, small, and mixed farmers to ensure the resilience and diversity of food production.
• Sustainability:
  • Continue protecting the climate, biodiversity, and natural resources, as well as improving animal welfare.
  • Acknowledge the progress made, such as the 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 while increasing productivity.
  • Allocate €98 billion from the CAP (2023-2027), representing 32% of total spending, for environmental and animal welfare benefits.
  • Cover 47% of EU farmland with voluntary practices of sustainable management of natural resources, with substantial efforts on soil protection.
  • Adapt to the new normal of crises by improving risk management tools and strengthening the agricultural reserve to deal with extreme weather events and increased market risks.
  • Invest ambitiously in research and innovation, making these investments accessible to farmers to help them overcome challenges and maximize sustainable farming opportunities.
• Solidarity:
  • Support farmers and maintain contributions to global food supplies.
  • Continue efforts to simplify processes and strengthen fairness in the supply chain.
  • Balance solidarity with farmers and international trade partners, recognizing the different conditions and challenges faced by partners.
  • Use the EU’s influence as a union of 27 countries and 450 million consumers to demand minimum environmental or animal welfare standards for imported products.
  • Foster cooperation and outreach with global partners, as the EU is the world’s leading exporter of agri-food products.

2. Specific Initiatives and Investments