Agriculture

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Agriculture in the context of climate change (Brussels, from 28 October 2008, 00:00 CET to 28 October 2008, 00:00 CET) —

A symposium on agriculture in the context of climate change entitled 'Addressing the climate challenge - what can agriculture do? Ideas from Europe and beyond' will take place in Brussels on 28 October 2008.

EC proposal for protection of animals at the time of killing - briefing — 18 September 2008, 14:58 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Action Plan for the implementation of the EU's animal health strategy - briefing — 10 September 2008, 23:12 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Bluetongue virus strain identified — 18 August 2008, 23:43 CET

An international team of scientists including both European institutes and an institute in South Africa has identified the strain of bluetongue that threatened European livestock in 2006-2007. The strain is believed to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa.

European research centre study shines new light on GM crops — 09 July 2008, 00:27 CET

The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has released its findings on the performance of genetically modified (GM) crops cultivated in the EU.

EU wine market reform - guide — 02 May 2008, 00:04 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Feed Marketing - guide — 06 March 2008, 17:08 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

BASF GM potato authorisation - Greenpeace statement — 19 February 2008, 10:11 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Debate over GMOs rages on in Europe — 18 January 2008, 18:56 CET

Over 300 scientists and green lobby groups in Spain have signed a petition calling on their government to ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Revised Common Market Organisation for wine: main points — 19 December 2007, 23:38 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

EU Health Check to streamline Common Agricultural Policy — 20 November 2007, 11:45 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Reform of the EU support scheme for Cotton — 09 November 2007, 16:15 CET

The European Commission on 9 November 2007 proposed a revised reform of the support scheme for Cotton. The new proposal maintains the support arrangements from the current regime, which was annulled by the European Court of Justice because of shortcomings in the impact assessment carried out by the Commission. The proposal foresees that 65 % of the aid should be "decoupled" (i.e. no longer linked to production) and 35 % remain linked to cotton production, in the form of area payments. The Court judgment did not question the reform's approach (i.e. the change of support system) but found that the Commission had failed to carry out an impact study that included labour costs in the calculation of production costs, and failed to assess the effect of the reform on the local ginning industry. The new proposal follows the completion of an in-depth impact assessment and a wide-ranging consultation of stakeholders.

EU cotton market — 02 November 2007, 17:41 CET

Cotton is an arable crop used both for its seeds, from which oil and oilseed cakes are made, and for its fibre. Today in the EU, cotton is only a small sector which accounts for less than 2 % of world cotton production and less than 0.0025 % of the EU's UAA (utilised agricultural area). The EU is a net importer of cotton. Support for the production of cotton under the Common Agricultural Policy started in 1981, with the accession of Greece. Since then the regime has been revised regularly. Today the EU's main producing countries are Greece and Spain, with some production also in Bulgaria and Portugal.

Massive rise in GM farming not enough: EU biotech industry — 30 October 2007, 19:08 CET

Despite long-standing scepticism of genetically modified organisms, the past 12 months have seen a massive 77% increase in the area planted with GM crops in Europe.

EU agri-ministers debate future of European wine — 24 October 2007, 18:27 CET

In their third debate on options for reform of the European Union wine sector, EU agriculture ministers, meeting in Luxembourg on 22-23 October, discussed ways to balance supply and demand and win back markets.

Bluetongue disease and the EU - guide — 04 October 2007, 13:53 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Bluetongue disease : EU measures — 04 October 2007, 13:51 CET

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted, viral disease of sheep and wild ruminants. It is not known to affect humans.

EU Food Safety Regulatory Committees — 03 October 2007, 17:08 CET

Following the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January2002 setting out the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety, the regulatory committees consisting of representatives of the Member States that have a key role in decision-making on food safety issues were reorganised within a single new structure, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. This new Standing Committee replaces the existing Standing Veterinary Committee, the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs, the Standing Committee on Animal Nutrition and part of the Standing Committee on Plant Health (plant protection products and pesticides residues). The new Committee will assist the European Commission in the development of food safety measures. Its mandate covers the entire food supply chain, ranging from animal health issues on the farm to the product that arrives on the consumer's table, thus significantly enhancing its ability to target risks to health wherever they arise in the production of our food. The Committee will consist of representatives of the Member States and be chaired by a European Commission representative.

EU Court rejects Austrian biotech ban - EuropaBio — 14 September 2007, 20:19 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

EU Information on foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK in 2007 — 06 August 2007, 14:03 CET

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, usually non-fatal viral disease of domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals, but may also affect certain other species. It is widely distributed throughout the world. Animals recovered from the disease may remain carriers of the infectious virus for an extended period of time. FMD is not dangerous to humans, but has a great potential for causing severe economic losses in susceptible animals.

EU forecasts slight rise in 2007 crop harvest — 25 July 2007, 17:22 CET

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has used its crop yield forecasting system to predict that this year's cereal harvest in the EU will rise slightly compared to 2006. However, it will remain 1.6% below the average of the last five years.

EU crop yield forecasts for 2007 — 24 July 2007, 22:47 CET

he European Commission's in-house scientific service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), on 25 July 2007 released its annual crop yield forecast for Europe. The central prediction is that the 2007 total cereal harvest will be 276 million tonnes or 1,6 per cent below the average of the last five years with Central and Eastern Europe losing out the most. This Memorandum provides information, maps and graphs on the forecast of cereal production. During the agricultural season, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) regularly issues forecasts for the main crop yields and produces analyses of the impact of weather conditions on crop production. These are based on advanced methodologies using satellite remote sensing and mathematical models which simulate crop growth.

Economic impact of EU unapproved GMOs on Europe's feed and livestock production - Joint Industry reference document and Questions and Answers - EuropaBio — 19 July 2007, 09:54 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

EU reform of the wine market — 04 July 2007, 17:13 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy

Different organic farming patterns within EU-25 — 26 June 2007, 17:27 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the EU's farm policies and the Common Agricultural Policy