How the Green Architecture of the 2023–2027 Common Agricultural Policy could have been greener

Abstract

A new 5-year Common Agricultural Policy has been in place since January 2023. Like its predecessors, this new policy will fail to deliver significant climatic and environmental benefits. We show how the Green Architecture of the policy relying on the three instruments of conditionality, eco-schemes, and agri-environment and climate measures could have been used more consistently and effectively. Our proposals are based on core principles of public economics and fiscal federalism as well as on research results in agronomy and ecology. Conditionality criteria are the minimal requirements that every agricultural producer must meet. Farmers should be rewarded for efforts that go beyond these basic requirements through eco-schemes for global public goods complemented by agri-environment and climate measures centred on local public goods. Eco-schemes should cover the whole agricultural area by targeting permanent grasslands, crop diversification, and green cover and non-productive agro-ecological infrastructures. We discuss trade-offs that our proposals could generate.

Halving mineral nitrogen use in European agriculture: Insights from multi‐scale land‐use models

“…Innovation is another, necessary pathway. Seven decades of well‐funded research have led to impressive technical progress in industrial crops such as corn and soybeans, while there is still very large potential for innovation in agro‐ecological techniques and organic agriculture (Guyomard et al, 2020). Because most agronomic R&D has focused on intermediate input intensive production systems, there is probably a considerable potential for yield‐increasing pathways that rely less on nitrogen without incurring significant losses.…”

“…This confirms the need for a coherent approach like that of the Green Deal, which associates these reductions in nitrogen pollution with a more economical and vegetarian diet. There is room for maneuver in this area, given the excessive caloric intake of our nutritional standards and the proportion of animal proteins which could be reduced with health benefits (Guyomard et al, 2020). The Green Deal is a global project that also involves major changes in demand, through reduction in waste and loss, better nutrition, including lower calorie intake and consumption of less animal protein and fat, which would absorb a significant proportion of the production shock.…”

“…This strategy is focused on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, safeguarding the environment, and generating employment opportunities. The Green Deal encompasses various components that will impact the agricultural sector of the EU, such as climate‐related measures, circular economy initiatives, and clean energy policies (see Guyomard et al, 2020). Two specific strategies proposed by the European Commission directly target the agricultural sector: the Biodiversity Strategy (BS) for 2030 and the “Farm to Fork Strategy” (F2FS).…”

Opportunities and challenges for Common Agricultural Policy reform to support the European Green Deal

“…Member states should implement climatic measures to attain the goal set in the EGD to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030. Ecoschemes represent a powerful tool to achieve meaningful mitigation objectives, consequently assigning fixed portions of the budget for specific climate-friendly measures would ensure that the CAP will finance climate action in farmlands (Guyomard et al, 2020). Ecoschemes could also act as support and compensation tools for farmers who are willing to downsize livestock production systems in favor of other less intensive practices.…”

“…Specifically, the directives in SMR 1 and 2 concerning protection of waters against nitrate and phosphate pollution ignore negative environmental and health effects of other pollutants, such as copper and cadmium, associated with unsustainable agricultural practices. Adequate pesticide and nitrates use reporting should complement the obligatory requirements aimed at preserving soil potential (Guyomard et al, 2020).…”