Organic Farming and the Reform of the CAP

Radical changes to food and farming throughout Europe are needed. There are many problems as environmental contamination, loss of biodiversity, loss of fertile soils, polluted water and animals kept in poor conditions. The European Union is currently reviewing its Common Agricultural Policy. The IFOAM EU Group, the European Umbrella Organisation of organic agriculture movements is calling for sustainability and organic farming to be placed at the heart of the reformed CAP. With millions of hectares of European farmland affected by soil degradation, one of the most pressing issues the reform has to address is how to maintain soil fertility. The CAP must also support sustainable animal husbandry practices that provide healthy environments for livestock and put the welfare of the animals first. Organic farming offers opportunities for farmers as well as other rural inhabitants. IFOAM EU Group wants organic agriculture to be mandatory in rural development programmes and to have a high co-financing rate to ensure that member states do introduce organic farming measures.

This film has been co-financed by the European Community, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. The sole responsibility lies with IFOAM EU. The Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.