In the wake of rising food demand, Copa-Cogeca outlined the best ways to maintain the EU’s potential for agricultural production whilst preserving limited resources– especially land and water – at EU Farm Ministers Informal Meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus today.

The move came as Ministers debated a new paper drawn up by the Cyprus Presidency which examines the need for stronger tools and support for farmers to cope with increasing water scarcity and to limit land abandonment. Speaking at the meeting, Gerd Sonnleitner insisted “In the light of changing climatic conditions and increasing societal demand for renewables, soil and land use have become more and more key issues for farmers and foresters. We very much agree that agricultural production must be carried out in a sustainable manner and in a way which helps to combat climate change. But the EU must also contribute to meeting future world demand for food. With finite world resources of land and water, in addition to the challenge of climate change, we can no longer afford to have environmental policies which do not take into account the impact on production. Farmers strongly support greening but we must eliminate the negative aspects of the Commission’s proposals to further green the CAP, as they are too bureaucratic and will not increase sustainability or have the desired effect. They would raise farmers costs and undermine their ability to compete”.

In particular, Mr Sonnleitner warned against the Commission proposal to create Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) which would mean reducing the amount of agricultural land available for production by 7%, without any clear environmental benefit. “In view of the severe drought and frost kill this year, and rising world food demand, this is the last thing we need. The EU farming sector must deliver economically”, he added.

He went on to point out that issues such as soil protection, soil sealing and land abandonment, which are increasingly linked to the impact of weather related phenomena, are close to our heart.” There is absolutely no doubt that soil is a valuable resource and a key production factor for the agricultural and forestry sectors. Given that farmers manage half of EU land, and soil is their primary production factor, and that this land represents part of their heritage and property, their primary interest lies in maintaining their land in good condition and in assuring its long-term fertility and productivity. Our view is that soil protection is best addressed through carefully-targeted advice and information, voluntary action and partnerships, exchange and communication on best practice, and with greater emphasis on further research”, he stressed.

Cogeca Vice-President Christian Pees insisted that only 6 per cent of EU agriculture land is irrigated, which shows our vulnerability when faced with drought. He highlighted the huge importance of irrigated agriculture – this land being particularly productive and allowing the production of high value crops. Furthermore, irrigation will become even more important in future. Therefore, it is vital to ensure an efficient management of water. Sustainable agriculture under a changing climate will make it necessary to reduce water needs for agriculture whilst ensuring water supply. Huge efforts have already been undertaken by the agricultural sector in order to reduce water demand. Nevertheless, in order to further improve water management across the EU, voluntary measures and partnerships are essential. Agri-environmental measures, both the current ones and those being planned for the future, are of utmost importance with a view to further adapt farming practices to environmental constraints. Therefore we expect that the activities within the European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural productivity and sustainability” – a new measure under rural development policy – can deliver additional benefits to farmers.

We also need measures to encourage green growth i.e. to integrate environmental protection and the production process in a way which maintains production capacity. As regards water, this means contributing to efficient and productive water use. In short, we believe that there is a need for an additional measure - a specific green growth measure under the 2nd pillar of the CAP. This measure should be specifically linked to meeting the fifth Union priority - achieving resource efficiency and a climate resilient economy. In addition, water protection can be much better achieved than by taking out of production 7% of arable land. Tailored solutions to local circumstances are certainly the most effective. We are confident that today’s discussions will reach a good outcome in view of strengthening our agriculture sector and delivering benefits to European society”, he concluded.

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