Brussels, 15/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers, meeting in Brussels on Monday 14 December, all gave their backing to development of a long-term EU strategy on agricultural research and innovation.
The important role played by the bio-economy, which encompasses the production of all types of biomass and turning this resource and waste flows into value added products, was emphasised by ministers at the Council.
A number of countries (Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, France, Estonia, Greece, Cyprus and Austria) stressed that, in the debate on sustainable agriculture, sight must not be lost of the importance of food security (producing food). Linkages with the environment were underlined by several ministers and some (Poland, Portugal, Latvia, Estonia, Spain and the United Kingdom) spoke about possible technology transfer (results of research that can be transferred to farmers). Sweden, Austria, and Slovenia highlighted the importance of forestry.
Germany said that it was important that the work of the EU in agricultural research is properly coordinated. Germany has a national progress report on the bio-economy and hopes to take account of the findings of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Research (SCAR) report. SCAR was set up in 1974 within the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and, in October 2015, published a report on the bio-economy.
Poland suggested that the agricultural research budget should be increased and urged that fragmentation in the sector be reduced. Belgium made the link between research and innovation and the well-being of farmers.
Italy spoke about food sustainability, as well as social and economic sustainability. It said that, as part of multi-disciplinary research, new growth models had to be found. Developing the bio-economy is strategic, said the French delegation, suggesting that it provided an opportunity for the economic development of agriculture and had its part to play in ecological transition.
Spain said that the SCAR report did not go far enough in its analysis of water resources and, in particular, irrigation.
Preparation of a long-term EU strategy on agricultural research and innovation began in June 2015, at a workshop at the Expo Milano. The strategy will be presented and discussed at a major conference to be organised by the Commission in Brussels from 26 to 28 January 2016.
Young farmers. In discussion of an “other business” item on a recent seminar on young farmers, Belgium suggested that new ways had to be found to attract young people into agriculture (increasing the aid available not only for taking on the first farm but also the second, increasing training opportunities and improving the predictability of young farmers' financial plans). Greece underlined the need to attract young people into the agriculture sector. The United Kingdom raised the issue of access to land for young people (successions). Romania highlighted the cost of setting up, the ageing population and its national action plan for young farmers. Italy stressed the importance of access to credit and land, and highlighted the risk of farms being abandoned and no longer worked. Poland argued for new instruments to attract young people (it already uses elements of cohesion policy for this kind of measure). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)