Turning the EU's agricultural vision into environmental action: A performance-oriented CAP after 2027

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Environmental Policy
• European Union Studies

Background:

• The European Union (EU) agricultural sector faces significant political and economic challenges, leading to widespread policy dissatisfaction.
• The EU Commission proposed a Vision for Agriculture and Food focusing on competitiveness, food security, and administrative simplification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the EU Commission's Vision for Agriculture concerning its implications for the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
• To evaluate the Vision's approach to environmental challenges within the agricultural sector.
• To propose alternative policy recommendations for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of the EU Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food document.
• Review of current policy frameworks and their environmental impact.
• Development of alternative policy recommendations based on identified shortcomings.

Main Results:

• The Vision for Agriculture prioritizes income support and bureaucratic simplification over environmental protection.
• Current policy directions may neglect crucial environmental challenges, impacting long-term food security and resilience.
• The analysis highlights a gap between the stated goals and the proposed mechanisms for environmental stewardship.

Conclusions:

• The current Vision for Agriculture requires significant revision to adequately address environmental sustainability.
• Implementing a 'pay for performance' system at the Member State level is crucial.
• Expanding results-oriented measures and promoting circular economy principles on farms are essential for future agricultural resilience.