Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, pledged to study introducing the principle of degrowth in the upcoming reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The aim is to ensure that smaller farm and livestock holdings receive a larger portion of the support when leaving the system that rewards farm size. She announced this on Wednesday after receiving the final report from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. The report was delivered by the group chair, Professor Peter Strohschneider, and includes proposals from 29 participants spanning European agri-food sectors, civil society, rural communities, and academia. These ideas will guide the Commission as it shapes policy in the coming years. [EU Commission Statement]
Poverty and Agricultural Demands
[–> The report answers several core requests from farmers and livestock keepers who organized protests in Brussels at the start of the year. They called for cutting red tape from agrarian and environmental rules. In response, the Commission relaxed environmental requirements within the CAP and exempted small farms from sanctions and checks necessary to obtain support. Von der Leyen underscored in a press conference that progress exists, but bolder steps are needed.]
The document now urges Brussels to center the next CAP reform on providing socio economic aid to those farmers most in need, achieving social and animal welfare outcomes for society, and strengthening rural areas so they play a reinforced role in the food value chain. It stresses defending the strategic importance of farming and food products in global trade negotiations while recognizing the diverse realities of agricultural sectors worldwide. [EU Dialogue Findings]
The recommendation seeks to adapt CAP income support by including redistributive mechanisms, caps, and the degrowth principle so that subsidies align inversely with farm size. This means larger farms would receive proportionally less while smaller operations gain greater access to payment schemes designed to help exit or transition from current models. [Policy Brief]
Environmental and Climate Actions
[–> The report calls for a substantial increase in annual funding for environmental and climate actions across the next two CAP periods. It proposes building on the current budget for ecological schemes and for agri environmental and climate measures and shifting toward healthier, more sustainable diets in response to rising consumer demand for plant based options. This shift aligns with broader societal goals while supporting farmers through the transition.]
Another key recommendation asks policymakers to account for the unique features of farming and the agri food sector in world trade relations, including agreements with regions like Mercosur. The Commission is urged to acknowledge the strategic importance of farming and food products in these negotiations, ensuring that trade policy reflects the sector’s realities and resilience. [Trade and Agriculture Forum]