More research needed to make CAP work, finds EU project

A long term research and policy agenda is needed to ensure the future success of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), according to the outcomes of the EU-funded SASSPO (Agriculture for Sustainable Development: A dialogue on societal demand, pressures and options for poli...

A long term research and policy agenda is needed to ensure the future success of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), according to the outcomes of the EU-funded SASSPO (Agriculture for Sustainable Development: A dialogue on societal demand, pressures and options for policy) project.

The aim of the project was to assess the research priorities needed to support agricultural policy making in the EU, and so help Europe move towards a more integrated and sustainable approach to agriculture and rural development. SASSPO organised policy dialogues which brought together key stakeholders including representatives of the EU Member States, the European Commission, environmentalists, farmers' organisations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The outcomes of these facilitated discussions were used to create four policy briefings which set out the research needed to feed into the agriculture policy decision-making process.

One key outcome was the need for further justification of the CAP. The project recommends that research be carried out into options for more democratic decision making within the CAP, allowing for involvement from a broader spectrum of stakeholders. They also call for more research into the economic, social and environmental impacts of the CAP, and suggest looking into ways of improving the complementarity of the CAP with other EU policies.

Europe's rural areas have changed greatly in recent decades, yet there is little data at the regional and sub-regional levels on patterns of change in agricultural production and rural economies. There is also a lack of data from the new EU Member States; many of these are facing problems now because statistics collected before accession were not compiled according to EU standards. This information could then be used to determine the appropriate level of administration (EU, national, regional or local) for different policy measures.

A key driver of agricultural change is technological development, and the project recommends research into the impacts of new technologies on the economy, nature, producers and consumers.

On sustainability, the project notes that 'a better understanding of measures that enhance biodiversity is necessary, as well as the biodiversity impacts of agricultural production systems.'

Agriculture is also expected to make a contribution to combating climate change through the production of energy crops; the EU has set itself targets to substantially increase the use of biofuels. The project proposes research into the costs and benefits of different forms of biofuels, including the impact of biofuels on world commodity prices. The SASSPO team also suggests research to identify different regional potentials for producing biofuels, and their social, environmental and economic impacts on rural areas.

Finally the project recommends the greater use of policy dialogues, similar to those used in the project, to feed into future decision making procedures. The project recommends that these debates take place outside the ordinary structures, and notes that they should include all kinds of stakeholders, in particular non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

With a reform of the CAP expected in 2013, any policy dialogues should necessarily be future-oriented.