North west Europe is not known for its soaring temperatures. Yet, this summer, even Ireland has seen a prolonged drought, with almost no rain for weeks, a similar forecast for the weeks ahead, and temperatures reaching 30 degrees in this more typically temperate place. How are horticulturalists on the yellow-singed emerald isle coping? […]
Natalia Mamonova examines Ukrainian peasants’ responses to land grabs and agribusiness expansion. It discusses the post-Soviet context, forms of incorporation of the rural population in land deals, the lack of rural protests and mobilization, and the prospects for small-scale agriculture in the country. […]
The Environment committee in the European Parliament has been given a greater say in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This includes the right to bring “amendments” (proposals) direct to the Plenary of the European parliament. […]
In part 2 of our re:CAP series we return to 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) to talk capping. What should be the level for capping and redistribution and what should be the criteria for that? […]
A recommendation for “Shared Competence” has been made by an arbitration committee in the European Parliament. So what will the decision-makers do later in the week? […]
Greenpeace EU agriculture policy director Marco Contiero with this op-ed tells us that a little-known panel in the European Parliament will rule later this week on a procedural issue that could make or break the EU’s most expensive and arguably most environmentally destructive policy. The leaders of the Parliament’s different political groups will end a bitter row between MEPs over which committees should be given a meaningful role in CAP reform. […]
Here we summarise and provide links to all eight contributions to the soil matters article series. From soil and the city to no till, humus and technical articles from soil scientists, there is much in here to cause wonder, controversy and, it is hoped, greater understanding. […]
Country girl becomes city girl with a background in climate change and environmental activism – and then becomes a cattle farmer? How did that happen? Meet Sineád from Mayo…… […]
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. […]
Where does Europe get its soybeans – South America, Ukraine, within the EU itself? Hans Wietzels talks sustainable soybean with Oksana Prosolenko of the Donau Soja Organisation she directs in Ukraine. […]
ARC wants to know where the key NGOs and civil society groups stand on the particularly pertinent CAP questions of the moment. It’s all in here: Capping, young farmers, budget shortfalls, agri-environmental schemes, co-financing, risk management and subsidiarity. […]
On the first day on June, Guy Singh-Watson handed over almost ¾ of the business- known primarily for its organic veg box deliveries in the UK – to its employees. So why did this especially committed individual do this – and reject tens of millions of pounds in the process? And what does this mean for food system democracy? […]
French NGO SOL – Alternatives Agroécologiques et Solidaires – set up the Small Farms International project in 2016 with the sole aim of supporting small farmers, particularly those new to the job. Programs manager Audrey Boullot reports on their developments. […]
New farmer Chiara Garini, fresh from learning about gastronomy and agroecology at the academic level, is trying to put some of her ideas into practice on a farm in Italy. Here she introduces her background, her studies, and the land she’s working on. Already, she has faced challenges and had to make decisions. […]
Magdalene Trapp and Sebastian Lakner simulated the potential effects of a CAP reform more oriented towards environment and biodiversity, in Bulgaria. They tested six scenarios on eight farm types, and analysed the income impact for farmers. So what did they find? […]
Agricultural and Rural Convention