Vision for Agriculture and Food Must Be Backed by Actions and Funding – IFA

IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle has acknowledged the work of European Commissioner Christophe Hansen in delivering his Vision for Agriculture and Food within the 100-day deadline. She outlined that her initial reaction to the document was broadly positive but ultimately it will be judged on how many of the objectives are achieved in the term of this Commission.

“The Vision document is the first step here. Now farmers need to see action with a proper CAP budget and a separate fund for environmental measures on farms. We need to see change and delivery on the objectives set out in the document,” she said.

The Vision for Agriculture document, published this morning is being studied in detail by the IFA. It outlines the importance of the EU continuing to contribute to global food security and commits to “an attractive sector that ensures a fair standard of living” for EU farmers. However, the Vision document has little detail on future CAP funding or the need for a separate fund for environmental measures.

“The reality is that this Vision is published at time when there are a lot of concerning noises around the budget for the next CAP. Nice words are fine, but they must be backed up with a strong EU budget for the CAP and separate funding to support environmental measures on farms,” she said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tasked Agriculture & Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen with delivering today’s document within 100 days of taking office and it is particularly timely with first proposals on the EU multiannual financial framework budget and CAP post 2027 due later this year.

The Vision document also sets out that the Commission “will orient the future CAP away from conditions to incentives.” If delivered upon, this would be a welcome pivot in direction relative to the focus of the last CAP reform.

There is also a clear focus on generational renewal and the need for action to reverse the alarming trend in the percentage of young farmers across Europe.

“The CAP accounts for a substantial part of farm income across the EU and this public support is vital to maintain EU food production and to attract the next generation of farmers who need to see this Vision being implemented.”

“The Commission must ensure that this is a common vision across all policy areas impacting agriculture and not to repeat the mistakes of the past where the Commission lacked a coherent approach to our sector,” Alice Doyle said.

“References in the document about targeting supports to the farmers who ‘need it most‘ need to be teased out as it may not be consistent with the original intention of the CAP which was to support food production,” she said.

Commissioner Hansen highlighted the issue of farmers selling below cost, which will not be tolerated, while also gives strong commitments to a simplification of how CAP policy is implemented across the EU.

The IFA Deputy President queried how Nature Credits and Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming will be increased and the viability of complementary sources of income for farmers from climate neutral and nature positive economy which is included in the document.

The Deputy President also outlined her concern at the proposed “voluntary benchmarking system for on-farm sustainability assessments” and how that could be fairly implemented given how varied farm systems are across the EU.

In relation to food security the Deputy President welcomed the recognition of its importance to the EU.

“The importance of food security in the context of EU’s overall security is strongly supported in the document. This highlights the importance of rebalancing CAP policy back toward food production in any future reforms,” Alice Doyle outlined.

“The document also highlights the importance of a stronger alignment of production standards to imported products into the EU. If this is the objective, how can the Commission continue to proceed with the proposed Mercosur trade agreement given the clear divergence in production standard between EU and South American countries?” Alice Doyle questioned.

“Farmers cannot afford to wait until 2040 to implement many of the ambitions included in today’s announcement and we believe Commissioner Hansen understood this urgency when he addressed our AGM last month,” she concluded.