Are you searching for the population density, the average distance to healthcare facilities or the broadband speed in any rural area, municipality, or region in the European Union? It is now possible thanks to the newly launched rural observatory.
The share of EU agricultural land under organic farming increased by more than 50% over the period 2012-2020, with an annual increase of 5.7%. In 2020, 9.1% of the EU’s agricultural area was farmed organically, reported the European Commission. On average, though with substantial variation across Member States, organic farms are bigger than conventional farms and run by younger farm managers.
Producer organisations (POs) play a crucial role in sustaining and fostering growth in the fruit and vegetables sector in the European Union. This is done, among other things, through channelling the EU financial support for the sector. This is one of the conclusions of the synthesis study of national strategies for sustainable operational programmes in the fruit and vegetables sector for the period 2013-18, published today by the European Commission.
Today, the European Commission approved the CAP Strategic Plans of Bulgaria and Romania. The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), set to start on 1 January 2023, is designed to shape the transition to a sustainable, resilient and modern European agricultural sector.
Тhe European Commission approved the CAP Strategic Plans of Estonia and Latvia. The new common agricultural policy (CAP), set to start on 1 January 2023, is designed to shape the transition to a sustainable, resilient and modern European agricultural sector.
Germany is pushing ahead with the development of smart villages – a move EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said was crucial for developing rural areas, reported EurActiv. The approach, also known as smart village development, is about revitalising rural areas through digital and, in some cases, social innovation, according to the European Network for Rural Development (ENLR).
“Smart villages are a key policy tool to unlock the potential of our rural communities,” Wojciechowski said during a conference on Thursday (27 October).
The Commission is proposing stronger rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and treatment of urban wastewater. Clean air and water are essential for the health of people and ecosystems, reported European Commission. Air pollution alone means nearly 300,000 Europeans die prematurely each year, and the proposed new rules will reduce deaths resulting from levels of the main pollutant PM2.5 above World Health Organization guidelines by more than 75% in ten years.
Eco-schemes are payment schemes in agriculture aiming at the protection of environment and climate. They are voluntary agreement between farmers and landowners, and public bodies. Farmers and landowners are paid if the established environmental goals are reached, reported Phys.org.
Great hopes are placed in this tool, in fact a quarter of the budget for the first pillar of Common Agricultural Policy is dedicated exclusively to funding eco-schemes.
EU agriculture ministers are pushing the European Commission to relax rules on new genomic techniques (NGTs), arguing this is needed to bolster the sector in the face of increasing droughts, climate change and yield losses.
“We only need to modify our old legislative framework regulating modern breeding techniques,” Czech agriculture minister Zdenek Nekula said during a press conference following an informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers on Friday (16 September).
