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The German Thünen-Institut has carried out an economic and environmental impact assessment of the introduction of eco-schemes in Germany. The institute focused on a realistic mapping of the extent to which individual eco-schemes are likely to be used and how they will affect farmers' incomes. The study was commissioned by the German Ministry of Agriculture. Various agricultural structures were included in the study, both in crop and livestock production. The assessed eco-schemes also included crop rotation on arable land (cultivation of at least five different main crops will be required, each main crop should account for a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% of arable land, the share of legumes should be at least 10%, cereals can be grown on a maximum of 66% of the land, maize and millet are excluded). According to the results of the institute, the introduction of a requirement to expand the set-aside area would have significant economic impacts. According to the results, in intensive livestock farming, strengthening the area temporarily set aside would increase costs by between €500 and €1000 per hectare, given the need to strengthen feed purchases and secure manure exports. The study also looked at the effects of shifting away from the use of plant protection products. According to the results, the largest reduction in yields, at 40-50%, could be expected for intensive crops of rape, sugar beet and potatoes. Yields can be expected to fall by 35-40% for most winter cereals, 30% for legumes and 15-20% for oats and maize.
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The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference takes place from 31/10/2021 to 12/11/2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Among the topics discussed during this year's event are deforestation and methane reduction, and the global transformation towards sustainable food systems is given insufficient space, according to the participating organizations. Beyond the planned agenda, however, the European Commission's proposal to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism was discussed. The European Union and the United States concluded an agreement on 17/09/2021 with a commitment to reduce methane emissions in all sectors by at least 30% by the end of 2030, compared to 2020 levels. On this occasion, the European Union has decided to support the work of a new UN body (the International Observatory on Methane Emissions), which aims to manage global measures to reduce methane emissions. However, the Union is the only group that has supported the initiative, for example, neither the US nor Japan have yet fully committed themselves to it. According to European media, this raises the question of the extent to which the US is committed to meeting the 30% reduction commitment. However, more than 100 countries supported the commitment to achieve a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 during the conference. In the area of deforestation, more than 100 countries have also committed themselves to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030, and a FACT plan has been presented to address deforestation through sustainable global trade in agricultural commodities. However, some organizations, including the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, have criticized the failure to include the issue of global transformation to sustainable food systems on the conference agenda. Representatives of Europe's largest agricultural organization - Copa and Cogeca, also spoke at the conference, stressing that farmers need additional tools and support to alleviate the costs they must bear in the fight against climate change. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission would push for a tax on imports of certain commodities in relation to their carbon footprint. However, the Union will focus primarily on motivating third countries to introduce similar carbon policies at national level to promote the decarbonisation of their economies.
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Last week, Spanish Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzón announced plans by the Spanish government to implement a new decree banning junk food and beverage as soon as possible in 2022. The decree will cover advertising aimed at children under the age of 16 to prevent childhood obesity and overweight. Advertising restrictions will apply to certain television channels during certain hours of the day before and after children's programs, and will also apply to advertisements in print media, radio, cinemas, social networks, and mobile applications. The ministry has identified several product groups, regardless of their composition, that should not be advertised to children. These include chocolate and sweet confectionery, energy bars, sweet toppings and desserts, cakes and biscuits, juices and energy drinks, and ice cream. In addition, the ban also applies to all products with additives that exceed the nutritional limits for sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
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At the end of October, the European Commission confirmed its decision to provide €2 million from EU's COVID recovery fund to two Dutch companies working to reduce the cost and increase the sustainability of laboratory-grown meat. The companies (Nutreco and Mosa Meat) produce laboratory-grown beef for commercial purposes. However, the Commission's decision last week was sharply criticized by Italian MEPs from the Italian right-wing Lega party, which is part of the Identity and Democracy group in the EP. They submitted a parliamentary question to the Commission asking for clarification of the criteria for financing the project through the REACT-EU recovery package. In a written question, MEPs emphasized that it was unacceptable for the Commission to invest millions of euros in European citizens' money in lab-grown meat. However, the European Commission is defending its decision that, according to the Commission, laboratory meat production is less demanding on animal husbandry, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including ammonia and methane, as well as less soil pollution. In addition, according to the Commission, the project is based on circulating raw materials with minimal impact on the environment, while also supporting the development of digitization.
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During the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, the European Union and the United States presented a new platform for transatlantic agricultural cooperation to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen cooperation. US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the platform needed to address the most pressing issues facing farmers and rural communities. The aim of the platform is to exchange knowledge and information, but also to promote mutual understanding and trust in the efforts of the two agricultural powers to work together to address global sustainability challenges. However, the United States has been critical of the European Commission's plan presented through the Farm to Fork strategy, which, according to the US, could lead to a reduction in agricultural productivity. Vilsack also warned that the US would not allow any attempt to impose external production standards on American agriculture (in response to the European Commission's plans to require trading partners to adhere to the same standards that EU farmers will have to comply with). According to Vilsack, these unjustified trade barriers would not only have an adverse economic impact, but they would also have a negative effect on the development of new technologies needed to address the need to feed the world's growing population and reduce the environmental footprint of food production.
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