“EU tax payers will only accept a strong agriculture budget if it brings about a comprehensive greening of the entire CAP", points out Christopher Stopes, IFOAM EU Group President. “Untargeted Pillar 1 payments have for too long contributed to the intensification of agriculture and benefited large-scale farmers and agri-businesses to detriment of our environment and have impacted negatively on the rural economy.

This reform must ensure at least 30% of Pillar 1 funding is dedicated to a strong greening package of effective agronomic measures.

It must also guarantee that all farmers in receipt of public money undertake substantial public goods delivery that decisively shifts EU food and farming towards greater sustainability by 2020."

“To confront climate change, promote the good management of our natural resources and respond to the employment crisis in our rural areas, Europe needs a policy that has the tools to lift environmental performance and the long-term viability of our rural areas." adds Marco Schlüter, IFOAM EU Group Director, “Rural Development measures under Pillar 2 are the best vehicle to promote viable, sustainable rural economies and build on the greening of direct payments. In addition to substantial greening of Pillar 1, EU leaders must ensure robust Pillar 2 funding that prioritises agro-ecological approaches such as organic farming.

Only this can put high quality food production, enhanced environmental delivery and sustainable job creation in rural areas at the heart of the next EU budget."

More information from the source: IFOAM EU Group