The new CAP Communication betrays a lack of ambition, a worrying move towards reliance on the financial sector, a lack of focus on rural areas or on some major issues. However, the results based initiative – which risking re-nationalisaiton to an extent – is at least novel and thought provoking. It potentially involves give and take by Member States with justifications accompanying subsidiarity. […]
Changes over to 40%, 60% and even 100% organic farming can feed the world. Interestingly, this is only possible if we also do two things we’re supposed to do anyway. So what are these two crucial components of a truly sustainable diet, which would need to accompany organic farming? […]
Automation and digitisation are rising in farming and the broader agri-food sector. Germany – industrial powerhouse of Europe – seems an obvious place to embrace AGTech. From precision farming and data ownership to embodied energy and cost, what are the opportunities, the impacts and the implications? And how are agroecologists responding? […]
what amounts to a mini CAP reform has just passed a crucial stage towards becoming law. There is but a single plenary (all MEPs) vote in the Parliament left, most likely in December. So what was agreed and what does it mean?
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One of a series of significant votes in the European Parliament on 24th October last involved the rejection of the authorisation of GM crops. So what reason did the MEPs give for reject these crops? […]
Agricultural knowledge systems, particularly formal knowledge institutes, and agricultural policy makers still need to increase their
acknowledgement of the value of local farmer knowledge. The more recent emergence of multi-actor knowledge networks and closer collaboration between formal knowledge institutes and farmers indicates the development of more participatory, inclusive and comprehensive knowledge and learning processes. […]
“resilience strategies can only be fully judged when we make clear and explicit our values, the specific qualities we wish to preserve, and the price we are willing to pay in the long run.” […]
BirdLife Europe & Central Asia have made proposals to substantially overhaul the CAP. The NGO proposes four instruments in the areas of farming; food, biodiversity and what they call “Space for Nature”. Also proposed is the end of the two pillar system, parity for environmental legislators, a radical change in farmer payments and in risk management. […]
At the end of October, Isara Lyon, one of the oldest agronomics school in France, welcomed the 1st Forum of Agroecology Europe. More than 350 people from 28 countries gathered together to discuss the future of agroecology in Europe. So what emerged? […]
How realistic is the Green Party demand in the current coalition talks for an agricultural turn, including the phase out of factory farming in 20 years? In the land of the near ubiquitous bratwurst, main ingredient in Germany’s’ number one fast food currywurst, how strong is the undercurrent of opposition to factory farmed pork and poultry? […]
As part of our rural sociology RETHINK Modernisation series, we present an article on prosperity. What does it mean in the rural context? Is it about income, or is there more to it than that? […]
Big Meat & Dairy’s Supersized Climate Footprint and an intro to what we can do about it. In infographics via IATP, Grain and Boell. […]
As part of our RETHINK Modernisation series, we present an article on governance mechanisms. This article explores new organisational forms, roles and partners, while presenting six vital conditions for success. […]
A special issue on Rethinking Modernisation is due to be published in the November issue of the Journal of Rural Studies. We’ll bring you some short approachable summaries of the content in a dedicated series with the authors. First up, the editors Karlheinz Knickel and Ika Darnhofer give us an overview of the topic. […]
Fertilizer, herbicide and GM crops. 24th October 2017 saw not one but three significant votes in the European Parliament on each of these topics. Considering how these plenary votes went, it may be the case that, when it comes to agri-food policy matters, the tide is turning. So what happened, and what’s next? […]
Agricultural and Rural Convention