News Agricultural policy
WUR recommends using 30% CAP support for climate
From 2023, a new cabinet should preferably transfer about 30% of direct European income support for agriculture (first pillar) to the pot for other agriculture-related expenditure (second pillar). The aim is to achieve climate and nature targets. This is in a study by Wageningen University which is paid by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
The report builds on, among other things, recommendations made in March by a series of officials employed by the General Administrative Service (report ABD Topconsult).
In round numbers, the plan amounts to €717 million in direct income support under the new European agricultural policy, an amount of €215 million will be deducted. This is intended to achieve goals in areas such as nitrogen reduction, raising the level in peat meadow areas and the construction of buffer zones around Natura 2000 areas.
Loss of income
As a result of the new CAP, the average farmer will lose about €2023 per year from 2000. If the preferred variant in the WUR study were to be chosen, this would be at the cost of another €3.000 in direct income support per company per year. However, in some cases, such as for Veenkolonial arable farms, the difference amounts to more than €12.000 per company per year.
The study acknowledges that this can have serious income implications for farms, but the authors also say the government is not responsible for the income of "individual farms."
From subsidy to pricing
The authors of the report also advise the cabinet to rely less on subsidies to allow agricultural companies to participate in a desired policy change. Instead, more efforts should be made to set standards and pricing (of emissions), it is stated. The idea is that farmers should be compensated for rewetting measures in the Veenweide area (80.000 hectares).
Klaas van der Horst
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