A report for the European Parliament calls on the EU to radically reconsider the way it subsidises agriculture, so that it supports decent livelihoods and attracts young people into farming.
The report set out to examine the Common Agricultural Policy's (CAP) impact on rural employment. It concludes that current policies have been counterproductive -- in fact the report's author, Eric Andrieu, told the online magazine Euractive that the CAP had been 'fairly disastrous' in its impact on jobs, concentrating instead on efficiency and competitiveness.
'I think we need to think in terms of land, ' he said, 'and stop creating competition between European states. A greater focus on the local level, with short supply chains and sustainable production, and a stronger link between public subsidies and job creation, would fulfil many important requirements such as land planning, product quality, farmers’ pay, the environment.'
'I think we need to think in terms of land, ' he said, 'and stop creating competition between European states. A greater focus on the local level, with short supply chains and sustainable production, and a stronger link between public subsidies and job creation, would fulfil many important requirements such as land planning, product quality, farmers’ pay, the environment.'
Find out more here about Sustain's policies for a greener, fairer food system.
Published Thursday 27 October 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
