Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

The future of agriculture and the post-2027 common agricultural policy

The rapporteur believes that the common agricultural policy (CAP) is one of the defining policies of the European Union and plays a strategic role in food security, the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and rural development. However, the uncertain geopolitical context and emerging challenges call for a revision of its objectives to bring its focus back once more to our farmers.

The rapporteur points out that the post-2027 CAP should be geared towards a more competitive and resilient model, and should have a clear water perspective, to ensure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the agricultural sector, as an essential part of the EU’s broader defence strategy. The rapporteur believes in a contemporary CAP that is open to innovation, research and generational renewal, which recognises the agricultural diversity that exists in the EU, without leaving any farmer behind. The rapporteur stresses that to achieve this, it is essential for the post-2027 CAP to have a larger budget to protect farmers from rising production costs, risks associated with extreme weather events and market volatilities, while meeting the demands of consumers. The rapporteur also believes it essential that Pillar II of the CAP remain independent in its objectives and functioning, but closely coordinated with other EU policies and funds, especially cohesion policies, in order to optimise resources and maximise its impact on rural development.

The security of food supply and the stability of the agricultural market are essential for the European Union and an appropriate financial framework should be ensured to maintain its efficiency and global competitiveness. The rapporteur expresses a clear commitment to the agri-food sector, which has demonstrated its professionalism, resilience and competitiveness despite the relentless crises and increasing bureaucratic burdens it has faced. The rapporteur recognises in particular the role of our agriculture professionals in ensuring food security and preventing climate change, as well as the contributions that multi-activity farmers, SMEs and cooperatives make to the rural world.

The rapporteur points out that it is necessary to consolidate a model based on incentives rather than obligations, promoting the adoption of sustainable practices without affecting farmers’ profitability. Existing regulations need to be reviewed so that they do not impose disproportionate burdens, and administrative simplification needs to be encouraged, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring that support reaches those who need it in a timely manner. To this end, the following should be noted:

• Direct payments under Pillar I of the CAP should be made available to all professional farmers, irrespective of their size and type of production;

• The possibility of supporting sectors in difficulty or subject to specific constraints, such as arid, mountainous or outermost areas and sectors such as fruit and vegetables, wine, beekeeping, Mediterranean forests and livestock, should be maintained;

• CAP cross-compliance requirements should be reassessed to reduce excessive implementation requirements, administrative burdens and unnecessary costs;

• The focus should be placed on voluntary actions and real incentives, rather than simply providing compensation for additional costs and revenue losses;

• Member States should strengthen their commitment to the agricultural sector, ensuring competitiveness through policies that encourage investment, appropriate taxation and resilience to current challenges.

The rapporteur believes that generational renewal is another of the great challenges facing the sector. The lack of young farmers jeopardises the future of farming and food security in Europe, and the post-2027 CAP should therefore ensure fairer access to land and finance by promoting tax incentives and farm transfer mechanisms. In addition, it is essential to extend start-up aid to new farmers and facilitate their access to training and innovative technologies to make the sector more attractive. It is also necessary to promote mechanisms that allow older farmers to retire with dignity, facilitating the transfer of farms using a structured process and with guarantees of viability for the new managers.

The rapporteur believes that climate change has accentuated the need for effective risk prevention and management tools. The CAP must strengthen agricultural insurance and establish rapid compensation programmes to address natural disasters or persistent phenomena such as drought. In this sense, efficient water management is a key factor for the resilience of the sector, which is why storage, interconnection and reuse infrastructures should be promoted, ensuring a secure and balanced supply. Investment in technologies for optimising water use, such as sustainable irrigation systems, digitalisation and the use of reclaimed water, should be a priority in the next CAP.

The rapporteur stresses the need to reduce Europe’s dependence on imports from third countries, especially of vegetable proteins. The EU currently imports approximately 70 % of the protein-rich feedingstuffs it consumes, which represents a strategic risk. To reverse this situation, protein-crop production in Europe should be encouraged by supporting seed innovation and the use of new technologies. In parallel, the CAP should consolidate the bioeconomy, promoting circularity in agricultural production and the recovery of agri-food waste. The bioeconomy can be a key source of growth for rural areas, generating employment and new market niches and boosting the sustainability of the sector. The rapporteur points out that strengthening the position of farmers in the agri-food chain is a key issue for the competitiveness of the sector and generational renewal. The post-2027 CAP should ensure that producers receive a fair price for their products by strengthening regulation against unfair trade practices and promoting clear labelling that favours transparency and traceability of European products. In this sense, the rapporteur trusts in the reforms of the CMO and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive announced by the European Commission, which should also strengthen crisis management mechanisms and the role of producer organisations and fruit and vegetable producer organisations, as generators of employment and entrepreneurship in the rural world.

The rapporteur believes that the relationship between farmers and consumers should be based on trust and recognition of the value of agricultural work and its associated risks. Reciprocity in trade agreements should therefore be strengthened to ensure fair competition between European products and those imported from third countries. It is also crucial to strengthen the agricultural reserve in order to respond more quickly and flexibly to crisis situations, preventing critical events, such as prolonged droughts or trade conflicts, from jeopardising food production in Europe. The rapporteur points to the need to speed up the authorisation of effective tools and active substances for the protection of plant health, while ensuring the least impact on the environment. The rapporteur also considers it essential that plant protection substances should not be banned without viable alternatives, thereby ensuring that agricultural production can be maintained in a safe, sustainable manner. The limited capacity of farmers to cope with the increasing and more persistent plant pests in the EU could seriously affect the European food supply, while reducing the competitiveness of our agricultural sector. The rapporteur stresses the importance of animal health in ensuring food safety and animal welfare in the EU, and considers it essential to strengthen research in this area in order to prevent the loss of livestock due to animal health outbreaks. Investment in new vaccines, treatments and early detection, along with the responsible use of antibiotics and traceability in production, strengthens the competitiveness of the sector and guarantees safe and high-quality products, which reinforce our food sovereignty. The rapporteur believes that innovation and digitalisation will be decisive factors for the agriculture of the future. New technologies, such as artificial intelligence and integrated farming, can improve the efficiency and sustainability of the sector, optimising the use of resources and reducing the administrative burden. The CAP should incentivise the adoption of these tools by facilitating access to them for farmers through training programmes and targeted funding. The development of new genomic techniques will also contribute to more resilient and competitive production, while ensuring food security.

The rapporteur also supports the promotion of the potential of innovation and the circular economy to provide opportunities for farmers to diversify their income, for example through the market for carbon removal in agricultural soils or biogas. The rapporteur highlights the role of agri-food cooperatives as an important instrument for strengthening the role of producers in the food chain, increasing the added value of their products, reducing their production costs, making joint investments and facilitating access to digitalisation and innovation, facilitating the incorporation of young people into the agricultural sector to develop a more sustainable and competitive agriculture.

The rapporteur stresses that less-favoured areas, such as mountainous, arid and outermost regions, should continue to be compensated by the CAP for the extra costs associated with their specific constraints in order to maintain farming activity and territorial cohesion in such areas. Furthermore, with regard to gender equality, the rapporteur recognises the innovative contribution of women in rural areas as an essential part of the sustainability of farms and the development of rural communities, but points out the need to provide more opportunities for women and young people in order to curb rural abandonment. The rapporteur believes it essential to strengthen mental health and ensure access to psychological support and welfare policies geared towards farmers and rural communities, who are particularly vulnerable due to a range of factors including the uncertainty and legislative pressure they have faced in recent years.

The rapporteur believes that with a solid budget, simplified regulation and a strong commitment to innovation, Europe will be able to ensure a more resilient and prosperous agri-food system that will attract new generations to a profession that is closely tied to European culture. It is essential to reaffirm Europe’s commitment to its farmers, ensuring a policy framework that allows them to develop, prosper, innovate and guarantee the EU’s present and future food security and sovereignty.