EU should reward farmers and forest owners for their contributions to sustainability – report
Clean Energy Wire
The agriculture and forestry sector could play an important role in the EU's goal to achieve climate neutrality by mid-century, while at the same time improving biodiversity protection and other sustainability goals, found a report by think tank Agora Agriculture. Policymaking in the coming years will play a crucial role in utilising the untapped potential of the sector, the report authors wrote. "This EU legislative period should create a political framework that promotes efficient land use and sustainable consumption and rewards producers for their additional contributions to sustainability," said Christine Chemnitz, co-director of Agora Agriculture.
"For agriculture and forestry to realise their sustainability potential, an enabling policy framework is needed that creates economic opportunities for farmers and forest owners," the report's summary reads. This includes income opportunities from the bioeconomy and renewable energy production, as well as activities with social value, such as carbon storage or biodiversity protection.
Emissions from agriculture and agricultural peatlands have barely dropped since 2005, said the think tank. However, these could drop by 60 percent by 2050 through a mix of more efficient land use and rewetted peatlands, as well as sustainable food consumption and biomass demand. Emission reductions are possible while increasing food security, producing enough biomass, and increasing carbon storage in forests and agricultural land, the report found.
Re-elected European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has promised to present a “Vision for Agriculture and Food” within the first 100 days in office to make the sector more sustainable and protect EU farmers. A wide stakeholder group last week presented a report on the future of EU agriculture, including how subsidies should be distributed, and the call for reducing the consumption of animal-based proteins — e.g. meat and dairy — in favour of plant-based alternatives.
