During a debate held in Strasbourg on Thursday, 13 February, at the request of members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, many MEPs warned that the future ‘Farm-to-Fork Strategy’ must not go against the interests and wishes of EU farmers.
This Farm-to-Fork Strategy, planned for the end of March, is expected to set targets for reducing the use of plant protection products, fertilisers, and antibiotics as well as reopen discussions on the use of processed animal proteins, the use of new plant breeding techniques, and animal welfare (see EUROPE 12416/13).
Plans to develop organic farming and to combat food waste as well as measures against fraud in the agri-food supply chain are also expected.
“We must not pillory the farmer by accusing him of being a polluter or poisoner”, declared Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany), who initiated this plenary debate on the role of farmers in the future ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy. He added that it was not necessary to create a “tome of prohibitions” but rather create incentives for farmers to better protect the environment. “We already have the highest environmental standards in the world”, Lins noted. Consumers must also change their attitudes, since they do not want to pay more for good products.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski indicated that “we will have all the details of this strategy” at the end of March. According to him, farmers understand the ambition of the European Green Deal, which is expected to lead to a “limited” use of antibiotics and chemical fertilisers, the development of organic farming, and “better air and soil quality”.
“European farmers are going to have to produce sustainably and will contribute to promoting better human health and combating climate change”, stressed the commissioner, who added that “we must help farmers” achieve this. In the context of the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations, Mr Wojciechowski defended “a good budget for an ambitious common agricultural policy”.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy)—who would have especially liked for Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans to have been present during the debate—warned that this strategy must not go against farmers’ wishes. “If farmers do not actively participate in the debate, this strategy will be headed for disaster”, he predicted. In his opinion, farmers are blamed for all the ills (loss of biodiversity, climate change, use of chemicals, etc.), but on the ground, “reality is different”. Mr Dorfmann indicated that we can think about using fewer pesticides and fertilisers, but we need to see the progress that can be made through innovation.
For Paolo De Castro (S&D, Italy), it is necessary to have not only a well-funded CAP but also “innovative initiatives” (replacing chemicals).
Dacian Cioloş (Renew Europe, Romania) declared that agriculture must be considered an economic as well as a social objective. In his opinion, it is advisable to be bold so as to meet the expectations of farmers and consumers. He stated that the Green Deal will be a failure without the participation of farmers. Hence the need to guarantee more income for farmers. Dacian Cioloş advocated a real ‘investment plan’ and felt that the ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy would not succeed if the focus is only on pesticides and chemicals.
“We need to make the CAP more sustainable and more environmentally friendly”, argued Sarah Wiener (Greens/EFA, Germany). In her opinion, this strategy represents “the last chance to reform the CAP”.
Zbigniew Kuźmiuk (ECR, Poland) considered the planned cut in post-2020 CAP funding to be “unacceptable” and called for more funding for those involved in the strategy.
Anja Hazekamp (GUE/NGL, the Netherlands) advocated that agricultural subsidies be abolished.
To consult a draft action plan (dated 13 January) implementing the future ‘Farm-to-Fork Strategy’: http://bit.ly/2wenFGR (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)