Latest from the ARC network Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

EU Green Deal | Carbon Farming Not Compatible With Agroecology

16 June, 2020 ARC

The agriculture section of the EU Green Deal is plagued with contradictions. On the plus side, it finally acknowledges the need to massively develop agroecology. But Farm to Fork advocates for a range of false solutions, including so-called “carbon farming”. All agricultural models cannot coexist, argue Manon Castagné and François Delvaux in this op-ed. […]

Why Language Matters To Shape The Future Of Agriculture

15 June, 2020 Ans Rossy

Why don’t we talk about doing good instead of doing less harm? Because we are facing a crisis of imagination, writes Ans Rossy. To move away from our society’s current paradigm of power and influence, we will need inspiring new narratives. Agroecology can help us envision a future that’s about sharing and cooperation. […]

The Myth of Climate Smart Agriculture – Why Less Bad Isn’t Good

1 June, 2020 Andrea Beste

The “modern” intensive agricultural system does the climate more harm than good. That’s a fact, no matter how much Big Data or precision farming you throw at it. We need to look outside that system for solutions. In this excerpt from an evidence-based study commissioned by Martin Häusling MEP, Dr Andrea Beste and Dr Anita Idel question the climate potential of precision agriculture and the demonization of cattle, and make the case for grazing animals, organic farming, agroforestry and permaculture. […]

Poking Holes in Farm to Fork: Environmental Groups Seek a Coherent Vision

24 March, 2020 Louise Kelleher

Healthy ecosystems are the foundation for food production, but they are pushed to breaking point by the current system. In the face of existential threats, Farm to Fork needs a coherent vision. Friends of the Earth Europe, WWF, Birdlife Europe, Greenpeace, ClientEarth and Pesticides Action Network weigh in on the European Commission’s Roadmap to food sustainability. […]

Stefan Doeblin Talks Organic Seeds

1 December, 2019 Hannes Lorenzen

The EU’s rules on certified organic seeds are finally due to change from 2021. Why is this happening, and what is the sector doing to prepare? Stefan Doeblin works in the development of organic seeds. Here Hannes Lorenzen interviews him on this fascinating topic. […]

Agroecology Europe Forum | What is this Thing called Agroecology?

16 October, 2019 Oliver Moore

What is this Thing called Agroecology? ARC2020’s Oliver Moore attended the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum at the end of September. In this second of three reports from the event, he ponders the triad – science, practice and movement – and wonders how they – and other elements – intersect. Featuring audio from a number of participants. […]

Agroecology Europe Forum | Apo Kinou – Crete’s Full Farm to Fork Social Co-op

13 October, 2019 Oliver Moore

Oliver Moore attended the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum in Crete recently. In the first of three reports from the island and event, he tells us here about the one of the field trips. This was a visit to the inspiring Apo Kinou social coop, where production, distribution and consumption are all under collective control. […]

Letter from a Farm | Saving Carrottop – the Life of a Cow in Mayo

9 July, 2019 Sinéad Moran

We’re back on Sineád Moran’s farm in Mayo, Ireland to meet her stock. Sineád introduces her cows and some of the struggles they have been facing over the last two years. It brings up questions about farmer’s knowledge and learning to trust your instinct. But really caring for your cows takes time and energy, something not all farmers can afford. […]

Agriculture Atlas | The Pillage of Pillar 2

26 May, 2019 Helene Schulze

A fantastic new resource has been published – an Agriculture Atlas. This is a really useful introductory to agri-food and rural policy in the EU, and mostly revolves around how CAP is implemented, including in a number of member states. ARC2020 has an article on Pillar 2, written by Helene Schulze and Oliver Moore. Published by Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Birdlife International (Europe and Central Asia) and Friends of the Earth Europe. […]

Rural Dialogues | Best Immigration Practice can help Alleviate Rural Depopulation

20 May, 2019 María Coto Sauras

Many rural areas suffer depopulation, while there is a need for newcomers to a country to be accommodated and given purposeful activities. Some lessons from a thoughtful approach to better rural integration of immigrants in rural Spain, with lessons for rural development more generally. […]

Good Food Good Farming Campaign is cooking up a storm

17 September, 2018 Helene Schulze

Across the continent, farmers, environmentalists, pastoralists, fishers are grabbing their pots and spoons to call for a more socially and environmentally just European food system. We want to see policy which supports small farmers and rural livelihoods, protects our soil, water, ecosystems and biodiversity and provides healthy food for all. On the 27th and 28th October, let’s make sure we are heard! […]

Living Labs | a Platform for Real-Life-Driven Research

25 July, 2018 Marina Kobzeva

Living Labs are to bridge the gap between academia and ‘real-world’ practice. They are meant to provide space for exchanges, and to facilitate the creative cooperation between a diverse group of actors seeking solutions to the challenges of a particular locality, solutions “that work”. […]

re:CAP | Subsidiarity – Savvy Decision-Making or Member State Carte Blanche?

28 June, 2018 Helene Schulze

The next CAP will likely give more power to Member States which may renationalise CAP. This raises questions about EU-level enforcement. Christian Rehmer (BUND, Friends of the Earth Germany), Aurélie Catallo (Pour Une Autre PAC), Ulrich Jaspers, AbL and Die Verbände-Plattform and Ariel Brunner and Harriet Bradley (BirdLife) share their ideas. […]

#EU3F | The EU Food and Farming Forum – An experiment in co-creation

5 June, 2018 Helene Schulze

IPES-Food hosted the EU Food and Farming Forum – #EU3F – the culmination of 3 years of work to create a Common Food Policy. The aim of EU3F is to co-create a Common Food Policy (CFP), following 3 years of multi-stakeholder, Brussels-based Policy Labs, a range of Local Labs in cities across Europe and work with 30 partner organisations. Helene Schulze of ARC reports on how it went.
[…]

Do we Need an EU Protein Strategy? And do we Need Weekends?

25 April, 2018 ARC

Last week the European Parliament called for an EU protein strategy to reduce dependency on protein imports. What would such a strategy look like? What are the implications? Alan Matthews tweeted about it. Lots of people joined in. Oh – and what’s a boondoggle? […]