The agriculture ministers of the European Council met in Brussels today to discuss the future common agricultural policy (CAP) after 2020. According to FACE, the CAP is a crucial support mechanism for agriculture and rural areas in Europe. However, the current CAP has a significant negative impact on the environment, biodiversity and the state of many huntable and non-huntable species in agricultural landscapes. Face supports the European Commission's request for a higher environmental ambition, which is why Agriculture Ministers in the European Council must be realistic about the need to make major improvements to the environment and climatic aspects of the next CAP.
In this context, FACE supports increased environmental performance and a better targeting of direct payments to support biodiversity: Biodiversity at the field level: in order to improve biodiversity at the field level, there must be a minimum percentage for non-productive areas in all agricultural land in the EU. FACE asks for a minimum share of 7% of agricultural areas dedicated to non-productive characteristics intended to protect biodiversity where it is not possible to use plant protection products. This will reduce dependence on pesticides and increase pollination thereby helping to build resilient functional biodiversity on agricultural land.
Evidence highlights the need for 10% of 'nature' on farms and connection to the landscape to support biodiversity on farmland. Appropriations: Member States will have to include in their CAP strategic plans agri-environment-climate commitments. Regarding the funds, a specific allocation for biodiversity needs to be foreseen, but only measures that clearly contribute to the climate and the environment should be considered captive in the CAP. Simplification: FACE supports efforts to simplify and supports EU rules that will not encourage farmers to remove important habitats (such as scattered shrubs and small wooded pastures) that are beneficial to agriculture (e.g. shelter, soil stability , forage) and for biodiversity. Eg, the definition of permanent pasture / grassland must be clear in order to ensure that certain non-productive natural features / elements can benefit from direct payments.
This is because permanent meadows / pastures with shrubs and / or trees are of extraordinary importance for small game species (and biodiversity conservation in general) in various regions of Europe. In addition, the farmers who keep agricultural land with high natural value they must be supported by targeted measures. A CAP (post 2020) with strong support for biodiversity remains the most powerful tool to deliver results for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the upcoming Green Deal and the EU strategy for post-2020 biodiversity. From the FACE point of view, it is necessary to be as ambitious as possible to ensure the success of small game populations on European farmland. In this context, European farmers need to be adequately supported for production of quality food, as well as other goods and services requested by the company.