CAP workshop Flashcards
1
Q
CAP general aims
A
Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers. It aims to:
- support farmers and improve agricultural productivity,
- ensuring a stable supply of affordable food;
- safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living;
- help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources;
- maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU;
- keep the rural economy alive by promoting jobs in farming, agri-foods industries and associated sectors.
- CAP responses included milk quotas, free butter for hospitals, etc.
The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget.
2
Q
Origins of CAP
A
- famine and starvation in Europe in 1940s
- post war rationing retained in the UK to feed Germany
- first aim of European agricultural policy was to ensure that this never recurred
3
Q
CAP the essentials
A
- will account for nearly 40% of the 2020 EU budget
- now still overproducing
- European citizen pay twice for the CAP - through taxes and food prices
- 2003: uncoupling production and subsidy
- farm support now linked to environmental protection, food safety, and animal welfare standards
- however, no real incentive to alter production to meet changing needs
4
Q
Three main components of CAP
A
°direct whole farm payments °price guarantees to producers, and °use of subsidy to manipulate markets, e.g. -free butter for hospitals -subsidised school milk -school fruit scheme -purchase of wine for distillation
5
Q
CAP sugar
A
- export subsidies have now been removed
- no direct support to sugar production
- european sugar prices now governed by world price for sugar
6
Q
Previous higher internal EU sugar price
A
- glycaemic load of EU diet has increased by only 8% over last 40+ years
- it has been be argued that this higher price put a break on increasing prevalence of obesity
- and may have contributed to protection against type 2 DM
7
Q
CAP and beef
A
- massive subsidy (90% income)
- massive market developed for cheap beef
- diverts grain production to animal food
- massive imports of grain and soya from developing countries
- large quantities of mass produced home-produced and imported beef
- cheap burgers full of saturated fat and
- high incidence and death rate from CHD throughout EU
8
Q
CAP and milk
A
- dairy fat is the principal cause of high levels of population mean serum LDL cholesterol
- massive subsidy to producers
- massive overproduction, of which Commission is required to dispose
- public encouraged to buy low fat dairy products but
- residual (saturated) dairy fat used in cakes, pies, pastries, etc.
9
Q
CAP cereals
A
- cereals should be a cheap plentiful supply of fibre and micronutrients, while also being low in fat content
- high subsidy + maintenance if high price
- cereal production is diverted to support meat factory farming but
- should provide a cheap basis for a healthy human diet
10
Q
CAP fruits and vegetables
A
- no subsidy until recently, but destruction of cheap production to maintain high price
- but can now be included within whole farm payment scheme
- considerable under-production in relation to need, thus there is
- insufficient EU production to support “5 a day” if there were 100% take-up in UK alone
11
Q
Tobacco
A
- direct subsidies to farmers ended in 2010
- still be grown within whole farm payments scheme
12
Q
CAP consequences
A
- overconsumption of saturated fat-rich beef
- overconsumption of saturated fat-rich dairy products
- consumption of saturated fat-rich cakes, pies, pastries
- underconsumption of fruit, vegetables and cereals
- underconsumption of vegetable protein products containing healthy fats
- overconsumption of high tar tobacco (exported to developing countries)
- high incidence and death rate of CVDs and cancers
13
Q
CAP reforms in 2005
A
- uncoupling of production from subsidy
- from 2005-2007 subsidy: 100% available to farmers who:
- use land to produce food or other
- protect the local rural environment
- maintain standards of food safety, and
- maintain adequate standard of animal welfare
14
Q
Cap and mortality
A
- in EU-15 in 2001, ~48,050 CHD and 17,800 stroke deaths per decade attributable to inadequate fruit and vegetable intake
- 7% of CHD and 4% of stroke deaths could be prevented if everyone in EU-15 ate recommended levels of fruits/vegetables
15
Q
EU health strategy 2007-2013 (Together for health)
A
- shared health values
- health is wealth
- health impact assessment (HIA) in all policies
- health inequalities
- EU’s global health voice
16
Q
CAP reforms since 2007
A
SCHOOL MILK REGIME
- introduction of a flat rate subsidy for all milk
- extension of the range of products eligible
- inclusion of secondary schools
FRUIT & VEGETABLE REGIME
- integration of F&V into single payment scheme
- promoting consumption: additional funds, limited free distribution
- EU school fruits scheme launched
17
Q
Further reforms needed
A
Subsidies should be used to promote health and environmental sustainability both in Europe and developing countries by:
- removal if subsidy from beef, diary and tobacco production (including in whole farm payment subsidies)
- transfer of subsidy from saturated fat to unsaturated fat products
- increased use of subsidy to promote fruit and vegetable production and
- maintenance of subsidy for cereals for human consumption
18
Q
Summary of 2014 reforms
A
- more equitable distribution of direct payments between MS and between farmers in MS linked to social criteria
- greening, 30% of direct payments to target crop diversification, ecological focus areas (i.e. organic farming zones), and maintenance of permanent pasture
- increased focus in rural development on small and medium size farms markets access local and regional systems
- increased funding to School Fruit Scheme + increased EC contribution
- School Fruit and School Milk Schemes increased focus and nutrition
19
Q
Environmental problems associated with European farming
A
- climate change, promoted by GHG emissions, especially methane and nitrous oxide
- loss of biodiversity, both agricultural and marine
- erosion, soil loss and soil fertility
- salination of water tables
- eutrification of streams and rivers
- unsustainable use of available water supplies
- excessive reliance on fossil fuel-based energy, including for transport
