Main stories

Why Is the Local Food Economy in Ireland So Weak?

Ireland’s weak local food economy is not simply a modern oversight or the result of consumer preferences. Instead, it is deeply rooted in historical and structural forces—chief among them, colonial extractivism. The foundations for this vulnerability were laid centuries ago, and they have laid down tramlines of extractivism which still operate today. Analysis by Oliver Moore.  […]

Main stories

Does EU Policy Have An Appetite For Local Food?

Across Europe, small-scale farmers are essential actors in local food provisioning, yet they face structural barriers to accessing public support. While industrial agriculture continues to receive the lion’s share of EU subsidies, the scaffolding meant to support local food systems often proves patchy or inaccessible. What EU policy supports are there for smaller farmers to supply food locally? Oliver Moore and Ashley Parsons chew over the options. […]

Main stories

Goodbye Carbon Markets, Hello What Exactly?

Climate Farmers – an influential think-and-do tank focused on regenerative farming – has stepped away from Carbon Markets. This news has been making headlines since it was announced in June. So what’s the problem with carbon markets? And are there alternatives that might work? Oliver Moore spoke with Ivo Degn of Climate Farmers, and others in the field to find out more. […]

Latest from Brussels

EU Throws The Wolf To The Wolves

Following votes at both Council and in Parliament, the status of the wolf in Europe is being downgraded from “strictly protected” to “protected”. So what’s happened to conservation of this apex predator – and why? Oliver Moore and Ashley Parsons report. […]

Latest from Brussels

A European Land Observatory – What’s In Sight?

Despite moves towards simplification, a Land Observatory is coming this summer. What’s more, there is broad consensus from both the Commission and farming organisations on the need for some more harmonised monitoring of land transactions. But how much power will – or should – such an Observatory have? What will it try to do? And which tools are in place at national and regional level? Oliver Moore takes us through the terrain. […]

Latest from EU Member States

Letter From The Farm | Community Farming in Ireland

On Cloughjordan Community Farm it takes a village to grow 50 sorts of vegetables. The member-owned farm produces high quality, nutritionally dense veggies using agroecological methods. Community is central to the farm’s work, from its CSA scheme to volunteering, and most recently a big effort to plant 2,000 trees for syntropic farming. Letter from the farm by Oliver Moore. […]

Latest from EU Member States

Eco-schemes – Running to stand still?

Introduced under CAP 2023-2027, eco-schemes aim to promote biodiversity, climate resilience and environmental sustainability EU farming. Yet, a report by NABU and Birdlife finds their potential remains largely untapped due to persistent challenges in design, funding and implementation. Oliver Moore breaks down key insights of the report. […]

Latest from key partners

Dark Matter – Phasing Peat Out Of Horticulture 

It’s a little known fact outside the growing community: peat is ubiquitous in producing the fruits and vegetables we eat. Organic and conventional systems alike rely on peat for plant propagation. This is a climate and biodiversity disaster, and alternatives have so far been thin on the ground. How is the horticulture industry dealing with the peat conundrum? Oliver Moore reports.  […]

Latest from Brussels

Do the 28 CAP Strategic Plans Progress Fairness for Farmers?

New CAP Strategic Plans have been prepared and implemented since 2023 in all EU member states. Are they helping progress values of fairness, as enshrined in both CAP and other EU legislation?  Here we summarise recent work by Henrik Maaß of German small farmer organisation ABL on this matter. While some progress and social innovation has been found, there is more stasis than change on display. […]

Latest from Brussels

Confidential Legal Advice on CAP Fast Track Uncovered – Critique of a Meek Opinion

Under pressure from farmer protests, upcoming elections and its own cowardice in the face of  climate and biodiversity collapse, the political establishment in Brussels and beyond is fast-tracking the evisceration of CAP’s environmental elements. This rush job began on 15th March with a proposal from the Commission, and will likely end Thursday 25th when the last full plenary of the Parliament rubber stamps the proposed regulation. The latest piece of sequencing was confidential legal advice given to the European Parliament on the process. In part one Natasha Foote outlined the proposal and the legal advice. Here Oliver Moore applies a critical analysis to shortcomings therein.  […]