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Representatives of the Dutch banking giant RaboBank said last week that RaboBank was complicit in the development and promotion of unsustainable agricultural practices, including intensive agriculture. Sustainability Director Bas Rüter said this in response to a report by the environmental organization Greenpeace, which accused RaboBank of supporting intensive livestock production. Roughly 85% of Dutch farmers have an account with RaboBank, but of the total investment of around €30 billion, only 3% was earmarked to support organic farming. According to Dutch farmers, RaboBank will now be involved in so-called sustainable agriculture initiatives - taxonomy, so Dutch farmers warn that by 2027, access to loans for farmers could be significantly reduced.

MEP Sylvia Spurek (PL, Greens) accused MEPs from Renew Europe and the European People's Party (EPP) of defending the agricultural business interests of large agribusinesses by blocking proposals to limit support for industrial agriculture, which Spurek sought to put on the agenda of the January plenary session. The motion for a resolution, supported by only a minority of political factions (especially the Greens and the GUE/NGL), included a proposal to end the payment of subsidies for intensive livestock under the Common Agricultural Policy, to switch to a plant protein-based diet and to end animal slaughter practices which lead to unnecessary suffering for animals.

The Irish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Maritime State said last week that farmers had been pushing for almost thirty years to intensify agriculture, mainly as food prices fell in shops. Therefore, according to the ministry, a change in the approach of the entire sector will now be needed to produce greener and more sustainable food that will meet the strengthened expectations of current and future consumers in the field of environmental protection, climate, or welfare.
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On 02/02/2021, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistics on agricultural input and output and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1165/2008, (EC) No 543/2009, (EC) No 1185/2009 and Council Directive 96/16/EC. This Regulation establishes a framework for comprehensive European statistics on the inputs and outputs of agricultural activities, as well as on the use of these outputs as intermediate products in agriculture, as well as on their collection and industrial processing. The draft regulates definitions, regular data requirements, ad hoc data requirements, as well as frequency, data sources and methods or reference period.
More information is available here.

On 03/02/2021, the Commission launched feedback on updating the rules on agricultural inputs and outputs. The aim of the initiative is to update the rules for compiling EU farm statistics, which includes agricultural input and output. The consultation is open until 31/03/2021, available here.

On 05/02/2021, the Commission initiated feedback on the extension of the protection of plant breeders' rights for certain plant species. The consultation is open until 03/04/2021, available here.

On 25/01/2021, the Commission launched feedback on a new EU forestry strategy. The purpose of the initiative is to prepare a new EU forestry strategy under the EU Green Deal. The strategy will focus on ensuring healthy and resilient forests, which will contribute to biodiversity and climate goals, reduce natural disasters, ensure livelihoods, contribute to the circulating bioeconomy, and support rural communities. The consultation is open until 19/04/2021, available here.

On 02/02/2021, the Commission launched feedback on a new EU soil strategy. The initiative is part of the EU's biodiversity strategy until 2030 and aims to update the current strategy to address soil degradation and conservation of soil resources. The consultation is open until 27/04/2021, available here.