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Deep Dive into The Green Tripartite – what’s in, what’s not and the Tricky Issue of Implementation.

November 12, 2024 Rasmus Blædel Larsen

This longer piece by Rasmus Blædel Larsen is a deep dive into the substance of the initial Green Tripartite Agreement text, as well as into some of the earlier critics of aspects of the agreement. In particular the contentious role of trees, the ambition of the targets, impact on biodiversity and finally actual implementation. Municipalities signed up to this as partners, and have a big role in delivery – perhaps one of the most important roles. But do they have the capacity to follow through? […]

Denmark’s Green Tripartite – Politics Plays its Role

November 10, 2024 Asger Mindegaard

In this piece, Asger Mindegaard (former Green Advisor in the European Parliament) brings us up to speed with the state of play for implementation of the Green Tripartite Agreement. After much fanfare back in June, pressure is mounting from many sides. The tricky issue of Nitrogen plays a role – alongside political parties and stakeholders of many hues. […]

Broken Tree-ty: Centre-right looks to further hollow out the EU’s Deforestation Law

November 7, 2024 Natasha Foote

Moves are afoot to slip new amendments into the EU’s recently delayed deforestation law in an attempt to further derail and delay the law from entering into application. Centre right European People’s Part (EPP) is proposing a raft of changes which weaken the deforestation law. So what is the group up to? Natasha Foote has the news. […]

Paving the Way for Agriculture Emission Reductions – the Danish case

November 7, 2024 Emil Fraas

Kicking off our series on the Danish agriculture in general, and the Green Tripartite Agreement in particular, here Emil Fraas of CONCITO introduces the broad contours of the Green Tripartite Agreement (GTA). As well as an introductory outline to the agreement, his focus is on the background that led to it, funding to support it, the role Nitrogen plays in the agreement, how integrated or otherwise the GTA is to the Common agricultural policy (CAP) and other enabling circumstances. Frass sees positives in the GTA, while also seeing merit in more ambition on climate, biodiversity and diet. […]

What will the EU’s new ‘boots on the ground’ Agriculture Commissioner bring to the table?

November 6, 2024 Natasha Foote

The EU officially has a new agrifood chief after Christophe Hansen sailed through his hearing on Monday (4 November), winning the final seal of approval from the European Parliament. But what exactly does the self-styled “boots on the ground” Commissioner intend to bring to the table? Natasha Foote breaks down the key things to know from Commissioner Hansen’s hearing. […]

Do the 28 CAP Strategic Plans Progress Fairness for Farmers?

November 2, 2024 Oliver Moore

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. […]

No More Business As Usual For Future Rural Development Policy

October 31, 2024 Edina Ocsko

Negotiations on future policy options at the EU level are ongoing, setting the basic framework for future rural development policy. In this op-ed, Edina Ocsko of Smart Village Network Services / E40, who is Vice-Chair of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG), argues that the EU must take a more proactive approach in delivering stronger supports for rural areas. […]

Commissioner-Hopefuls Hint at Road Ahead

October 29, 2024 Natasha Foote

Last week the new crop of wannabe Commissioners faced the first round of questioning from the European Parliament. Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council signs off (sort of) on a “farmer-focused” CAP post-2027. Plus we bring you the latest on the case building against “poison PR”. Natasha Foote reports. […]

The EU is Mulling a Seismic Budgetary Shift – What Would This Mean for Agri and Rural Areas?

October 16, 2024 Natasha Foote

The European Commission has been quietly weighing up options to radically overhaul its budget. This could see all of its 500+ biggest money pots merged into one mega money pot, divided out based on plans put together by EU countries. If approved, the move could prove seismic for European regions, farmers and rural areas – here ARC2020 maps out why. […]

Michael Dower Award for Rural Resilience – Nominate A Rural Action-Taker Today!

October 15, 2024 ARC

Michael Dower (1937-2022) has inspired rural Europe for decades. Co-founder of the European AgriCultural Convention (EAC), which later became ARC2020, he was a phenomenal agent of change. Launching today, the Michael Dower Award for Rural Resilience will showcase the efforts of local communities and individuals who are taking action to make rural Europe a better place to live. […]

Op-ed – The Brave New World of Bayer & Co

October 11, 2024 Hans van Scharen

In this op-ed, Hans Van Sharen of Corporate Europe Observatory argues that Bayer, a German agrochemical giant, exerts vast political and economic influence globally, often harming public health, biodiversity, and democracy in the process. The company aggressively lobbies to shape laws in its favor, fighting legal battles over the harmful effects of its products, like glyphosate. A new report by Corporate Europe Observatory reveals Bayer’s long history of lobbying to maintain control of the seed and pesticide markets, despite evidence of environmental and health risks. With soaring lobbying expenditures, especially in the EU and US, Bayer even seeks to alter liability laws to protect itself from lawsuits. Critics argue that Bayer’s toxic business model must be curtailed to protect both the environment and democracy. […]

Op-Ed: Time for a Rethink to Reverse the Rapid Decline of Farming in Europe

October 8, 2024 Marco Contiero

A new study from the Greenpeace European Unit – Go Big or go Bust shows just how rapidly farming in Europe is going in a particular trajectory. Simply put, small farm are disappearing, and large farms are both getting bigger and are getting more economically dominant. These socio-economic realities contribute to social unrest and farmer’ protests. So far, the European Institutions have reacted in a knee jerk manner to protests, and have not addressed these underlining causes. Instead, Marco Contiero (EU Policy Director on Agriculture at the Greenpeace European Unit) argues in this op-ed that a better resourced system must put in place to encourage a transition towards a truly sustainable farming system. […]

From Farmers for Farmers – and for Healthy Societies on a Planet Conducive to Life

October 7, 2024 ARC

The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) is an independent, farmer-led coordination and political advocacy organization of the movement of regenerative agriculture at the European level. EARA is striving to enable the transformation of our agrifood ecosystems through accountable ecologic, economic and social regeneration. In this op-ed, EARA outlines a critique of the flawed ways it sees farming being supported currently, while offering another approach – one grounded in the biological processes of photosynthesis performance and soil cover: KPIs for a regenerative future. […]

October is Here – That Means European Days of Action!

October 2, 2024 ARC

Every October, farmers, consumers, activists and citizens come together to celebrate food and farming – and demand political change! For the seventh year in a row, the European Days of Action are happening. Mia Mancini and Pauline Naterstad from Good Food Good Farming tell us about the actions and some of the upcoming activities – and how to register yours! […]

CAP not Matching Europe’s Green Ambitions, say Auditors (again)

September 30, 2024 Oliver Moore

CAP 2023-2027 is greener than the previous CAP – but plans “do not match the EU’s ambitions for the climate and the environment”. That’s according to the ECA – the European Court of Auditors – which released it’s special report Monday 30th September. So what’s in it? Oliver Moore delves in for an initial read. […]