MAGAZINE - Copa-Cogeca

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10 │ April 2012 people resilient sufficient sustainable productivity planet agriculture People Planet Agriculture An appetite for measurable sustainability viable The crop protection industry works daily for the quality, quantity and sustainability of European food. Pesticides are part of a solution that balances the needs of. We must grow more, from less. Europe needs policy measures that encourage sustainably productive agriculture. people, the planet and agriculture. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be a central part of Europe’s drive for measurable sustainability, and a focal point for innovation. resilient Efficient agriculture protects and preserves natural resources and minimises the environmental impact of food production European Crop Protection believes that success depends upon concrete measures and objectives for competitiveness, productivity, and the development and uptake of science based solutions for the sustainable intensification of agriculture. sufficient Rising demand for food, the constraints of natural resource use, the challenges of a changing climate and biodiversity conservation inspire a new vision for agriculture viable European society, environment and economic competitiveness all stand to benefit from a regulatory framework that boosts innovation for a truly resource efficient production of food, feed and fibre
April 2012 │ 11 Falkenberg claims currently looking into applying at international level same high EU production and environmental standards to imports and stepping up controls In an interview with Copa-Cogeca, EU Commission Director- General for the Environment Karl Falkenberg said they are stepping up import controls and work at international level on how to apply the same high EU production and environmental standards to imports of agricultural products and food imported to the EU. Copa-Cogeca argues that the EU is imposing higher and higher environmental constraints and costly regulations onto EU producers, which reduces their competitivity, and the same rules are not applied to imports. For example, the EU has just imposed a ban on un-enriched cages for laying hens on its own producers, which has cost them over 5 billion euros, and not on imports. Prices have risen as a result of this ban and producers have had to de-populate in the short term to give time to adjust to the new standards and costs or cease their production. And now the industry is looking to boost imports, which do not have to meet the same standards, in order to fill the gap. Copa-Cogeca insists that the same standards which are applied in the EU must apply to imports. Mr Falkenberg acknowledged the problem, saying that this hasn’t been achieved at international level yet within the WTO but they are working on it. They nevertheless try and incorporate it into bilateral trade agreements and have been looking at enhanced labelling requirements for imports. They have also stepped up import controls, he added. Copa-Cogeca also warns against imposing further mandatory environmental constraints onto EU farmers, which has been proposed by the Commission under its CAP post-2013 proposals, and which again do not apply to imported products. Copa-Cogeca arges that we are already far ahead in terms of greening than other non-EU countries and now is not the time to impose further costly constraints onto EU farmers. Copa- Cogeca instead advocates the need for green growth measures which benefit the environment at the same time as maintaining productivity and competitivity. Copa-Cogeca argues that there is no sense in taking land out of production, as proposed by the Commission, in the wake of growing food demand and when the environmental benefits of it are questionable. It is not the right way forward. This has also been supported by many EU Farm Ministers and MEPs. Defending the move, Mr Falkenberg insisted that its an intelligent form of set-aside. Mr Falkenberg went onto highlight the benefits of innovation which Copa-Cogeca supports, believing it essential to boost productivity using less resources. Copa-Cogeca welcomes the EU Commission latest move to set up European Innovation Partnerships.
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