Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)’s Post

For those who still believe politicians are still in charge of national and internal policies may be totally wrong. Capitalism is charting the way forward, the road of no return. European Commission has enacted a derogation in the European Union’s (EU’s) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to set aside 4% of farmland for biodiversity and landscape protection, withdrawn a bill to halve pesticide use, removed a target to reduce agriculture emissions by 30% by 2040, and called for further changes in the CAP to loosen environmental requirements. However, the speed at which EU and national politicians abandoned green policies reflects the strong penetration of industrial agriculture into decision spheres.

🌟 New guidance and increased ASA scrutiny of sustainability and environmental claims in food and agriculture adverts planned for summer 2024. 🌟 🌳 The ASA plans to start proactive monitoring of food & beverage adverts for misleading sustainability claims this summer. 📜 New guidance on key issues affecting food and agriculture is also planned. This is likely to include claims such as "regenerative farming", "biodegradable", environmental credentials of plant-based alternatives and natural/fresh imagery as implied environmental claims. Click the link below to read more: 👉 bit.ly/3VaR6T0 #sustainability #ASA #environmental #food #agriculture

Is it possible to decarbonize agriculture and make the food system more resilient to climate change? Today, I'm speaking with agricultural policy expert Peter Lehner about his climate neutral agriculture ideas and the science, law and policy needed to achieve these ambitious goals. Lehner is an environmental lawyer at Earthjustice and directs the organization's Sustainable Food and Farming Program. Podcast and transcript https://buff.ly/3R0AZVT #PeterLehner #EarthJustice #ClimateNeutralAgriculture #SustainableFarming #EnvironmentalLaw #MethaneEmissions #NitrousOxide #GreenhouseGases #RegenerativeAgriculture #FarmBillPolicy #AgriculturalSubsidies #Food Waste #CAFO #CropRotation #ManureManagement #CarbonSequestration #Plant-Based Diet #FoodIndustryInfluence #ConsumerClimateAwareness #EnvironmentalLabeling #DukeWorldFoodPolicyCenter

European Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen has set the scene for his hearing next month in written responses to European Parliament members✍️ While talking a good game about how the Common Agricultural Policy can be reworked to deliver for farmers and the climate, Hansen’s answers point towards an over-reliance on market-based solutions💱 To be credible, carbon farming schemes must have robust monitoring, reporting and verification methods🗒️ Additionally, potential credits must not be used for offsetting purposes ⛔ Indeed, science tells us that greenhouse gas fluxes and carbon stocks in soils are notoriously difficult to measure, monitor and verify. Moreover, stored carbon is vulnerable to intentional or accidental reversals👩🔬 Such an approach excessively focuses on carbon, despite biodiversity and ecosystem services being under severe threat😵 Overall, this undermines the certainty and environmental integrity needed for a carbon market to be trustworthy🤝 To achieve the right balance between the needs of farmers and climate demands, Carbon Market Watch proposes supporting activity-based finance for activities that help restore our soils as opposed to the results-based finance promoted in any crediting regime👍 Check out this video to learn more📽️ https://lnkd.in/eYJzcdT8

This #EarthDay2024, CNFA highlights the importance of #climatesmart agriculture in addressing environmental shocks and promoting sustainable agriculture sector growth. In #Niger, the Feed the Future-funded USAID Yalwa activity helped advance the production and adoption of locally-sourced, organic and cost-efficient fertilizer as an alternative to imported varieties susceptible to price shocks. The co-benefits to farmer incomes, community resilience and ecological health shows how agricultural development and good environmental stewardship can help meet the world’s growing demand for food. #EarthDay2024

The next Commission challenge lies indeed around which agriculture we really want/we can transition to; how the sector can thrive in times of rapid climate change, instable market conditions, securingdecent wages for farmers, guaranteeing food security, access to all to healthy food, reducing emissions and intrants, clean soil and reasoned land use, use carbon sinks and enlarge nature restoration to name some of the long list of challenges we are all facing. This can only be leveraged at EU level efficiently. Not forgeting agri trade at global level... Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)

🍽️ Feeding the Change towards a more sustainable and fairer future for agriculture in the EU Our CAP & Food Senior Fellow, David Baldock, recently shared critical insights at the Slow Food event hosted at the European Parliament. The event focused on advancing the agricultural future in the EU. Key actions are essential for the upcoming EU mandate to drive meaningful progress:   🔸 A Roadmap for the future of agriculture as promised by the European Commission in early 2025 🔸 Initial options for the next CAP 🔸 Options for the next EU budget and the MFF 🔸 New transition fund 🔸 Overdue legislation on animal welfare 🔸 Revision of the Unfair Trading Practices directive 🔸 Possible proposal for an EU-wide sustainability benchmarking system for farming 🔸 Legislative proposals for meeting EU climate emission reduction targets for 2040 (-90% relative to 1990) 📚 For more on CAP - https://lnkd.in/ewcgyKi8 Sustainable farming - https://lnkd.in/e4bttgNC Sustainable food system - https://lnkd.in/efEVDEaJ Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) has been closely involved in seeking to improve the environmental focus of EU agriculture policy, including the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) since the 1980s.   Contact Melanie Muro to work with us on sustainable agriculture policies.

Though agriculture has grown, there are many myths and misconceptions. Let's find the truth! While it is a fact that modern agriculture uses a significant amount of chemicals and pesticides, whether this usage is "way too many" is subjective and depends on one's perspective on environmental sustainability, food security, and agricultural practices 🌾🔍 #modernfarming #greentech #ecofriendly #foodproduction #sustainablefarming #agrifacts #cropmanagement #australia #apexlabourforce

🌍 TAPP Coalition is partner of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). With TAPP support EEB released a position paper examining the potential of an Agricultural Emissions Trading Scheme (Agri-ETS) to facilitate the transition towards a climate neutral agrifood sector. 📄 Check out the position paper here: https://lnkd.in/ekdKyKZF We’re proud to have contributed to the EEB’s stance on this vital issue! 🔗 Links to our own position papers and letters on Agri-ETS in the comments. Find out why TAPP Coalition is leading this debate in Europe and why its director is invited by new EU Commissioners for Climate and Agriculture. 'Your support is invaluable to us' wrote an assistant on behalf of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to TAPP Coalition director Jeroom Remmers in an invitation letter for a visit with a DG Clima Cabinet member in Brussels. TAPP Coalition had sent its Agri-ETS position papers to the chair of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of European Agriculture, who became a supporter. Nearly 30 EU stakeholders in the Dialogue, set up by Ursula von der Leyen, discussed about it. They still have questions and concerns, but they recommended the EU Commission to do more impact assesments. https://lnkd.in/exwBH9zC #AgriETS #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPolicy

"𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 According to the European Commission, sustainable agriculture can contribute to creating over 1 million jobs in rural areas and increasing farm income by 10% by 2030. By embracing sustainable practices, we can: Revitalize rural areas: Create jobs, support local businesses, and preserve our cultural landscapes. Ensure food security: Produce high-quality, nutritious food for all while protecting our environment. Promote social equity: Support small-scale farmers, fair trade practices, and reduce food insecurity. A recent study by the European Environment Agency found that sustainable agriculture can reduce pesticide use by 25% and improve water quality by 15%. Harvest Harmonics is leading the way in sustainable agriculture by its innovative technology that delivers: ✅ Increased plant size and quality ✅ Increased crop yields ✅ Improved soil health ✅ Increased Nutrient-Dense Food ✅ Reduced water usage ✅ Reduced input costs ✅ Increased pest and disease resistance Join us in the movement towards a more sustainable future for European agriculture. We are currently gathering impressive results from multiple institutions and actively seeking government official partners in Europe for scientific trials. To discuss this opportunity further, please schedule a meeting directly with Mr. Arlia through this link: https://lnkd.in/eJnfDXFu #sustainableagriculture #Europe #ruraldevelopment #foodsecurity #socialequity #EUGreenDeal #Farming #HarvestHarmonics