Over 140 Civil society groups call for reform of European agricultural policies

Over 130 European civil society organisations representing environmental and social justice networks, organic farmers, pastoralists, peasants, sustainable forestry groups, health groups, animal welfare organisations, consumer rights bodies, development, fair-trade, cultural heritage and rural development organisations, consumer co-operatives, sustainable tourism and crafts associations from 25 EU countries have today called on EU leaders to carry out a radical reform of the CAP and related policies.

The call comes as agricultural ministers meet in Brussels to discuss future reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and also in light of the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the future of the policy.

In a common statement titled ‘Good Food, Good Farming – Now’ the signatories state that the current food and farming system is no longer functioning, since it props up the agro-industrial status quo, and call for a fundamental reform of Europe’s broken agricultural policy. Such a reform is urgently needed to enable a transition towards a food and farming system which supports fair and diverse food and farming economies, is underpinned by viable alternatives such as organic and agro-ecological farming, and which respects the environment and animal welfare, supports citizens’ health, and is publicly accountable.

The full statement can be found here