ARC Press Release 12-10-11

PDF version available in English, German, French, Polish and Romanian

ARC PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release

Citizens speak out!  The status quo is not an option

We need sustainable, resilient food systems, not defence of vested self-interests

The ARC, the broad alliance of civil society organisations and networks,[i] today called upon the citizens of Europe to continue fighting for a truly sustainable Common Agricultural Policy – as vested self-interests threaten to sabotage this unique opportunity to create positive change in the way we eat and produce our food, consume natural resources, and use public funds, while ensuring fair incomes and economically viable rural areas.

Reacting to the legislative proposals for the future CAP, ARC welcomes the recognition by the European Commission of the grave challenges posed by climate change and increasing pressure on the world’s resources. But the ARC believes, especially in the wake of fierce interventions by Member States, that the proposals fall short of delivering the vision, strategy and concrete goals of a truly sustainable food and farming policy. They also fail to fulfil the aspirations expressed by European citizens, illustrated by recent Eurobarometer survey results[ii].

The ARC therefore calls upon the people of Europe, in their capacity as taxpayers, consumers or producers, to demand a far bolder and more long-sighted CAP. Nat Page, speaking for ARC, said:

“Short-termism and vested interests should not be allowed to blunt the vision of a truly sustainable and equitable future. Business as usual will see Europe continuing down a dangerous road of excessive consumption of the world’s resources and grave damage to the environment, while the socio-economic fabric of rural areas further disintegrates. We, and the organisations in our alliance, will continue to mobilise Europe’s citizens to pressure their elected representatives for a profound reform.”

In the ARC’s view, the new programming period should see a progressive shift from industrialised agriculture and centralised food industry, to sustainable farming everywhere and a diversified pattern of regional and local production and consumption. We welcome the Commission’s intention to shift to resource-efficient local food production based on biologically diverse agro-ecosystems resilient to climate change. But the proposals do not yet address the massive dependence of agriculture on fossil fuels and imported feedstuffs. The proposals ought to be “greening” the CAP, but do not stimulate the shift to truly sustainable methods of farming, such as substantial compulsory crop rotation including legumes which can also boost farmers’ income[iii]. They do not pursue rigorously the EU commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity. And rather than coming up with market measures to ensure fair prices for farmers and consumers, they propose insurance schemes which would only serve to line the pockets of insurers and the financial system and raise farmers’ production costs further.

As for the rural development proposals, the ARC also welcomes the movement towards multi-funded local development strategies, drawing from different EU funds. However, the proposals do not promote the economic, social and environmental renaissance of rural areas that we called for last November.  The rural development measures provide no strong impetus towards multi-sectoral development.   They do not adequately provide assurance of effective support for the rural poor and vulnerable, or for sustaining the social vitality of communities based on subsistence and semi-subsistence farming.

Disappointingly, the proposals do not address the detrimental impacts of the CAP on global food security, development and resource management, and the continued support for unsustainable, industrial export strategies dependent on cheap imports of agricultural commodities.

ENDS

Notes to Editors