ARC Conference renews call for paradigm shift and rural renaissance
July 13 2011
Brussels, Belgium

The second conference of the Agricultural and Rural Convention  (ARC 2020) was held in Brussels on 13 July 2011. The aim of the conference was to reflect on the influence of ARC in communicating its position on reform and how best to proceed over the next year. Prior to the conference a gathering of ARC members, including Antje Kölling, Policy Coordinator at IFOAM EU Group, explored a number of issues linked to reform of the CAP including market measures, direct payments, sustainable farming, greening of the CAP, public health and international and rural development. With current proposals for the CAP failing to live up the ARC’s aspirations for a paradigm shift in agriculture and food systems and a rural renaissance, the gathering discussed the need for ARC to be bolder in advocating a more holistic approach to agriculture and rural development that addresses the social and economic needs and environmental and developmental obligations of the European Union. To this end members agreed that the ARC should continue its activities to influence the legislative process over the next year.

During the conference, attended by over two hundred people representing civil society organisations, members of the European Parliament and other interested individuals and organisations, delegates heard from key experts about the future of agriculture and rural development policy. Outlining the policy challenges and attitudes globally, Jim Harkness, President of the Institute for Trade and Development Policy (IATP), commended the work of European civil society organisations in pushing for a paradigm shift and suggested that international alliances had much potential for exchanging ideas and building sustainable food systems globally. Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University London, argued that it is critical that agriculture and food systems are linked to public health, with greater attention directed towards the food quality, dietary health and well-being issues. Finally, Erik Mathijs, Professor of Agriculture and Food Economics at K.U. Leuven, outlined the findings of the Report of the 3rd SCAR Foresight Exercise which points to the need to move away from the narrative of ‘productivism’ to one of ‘sufficiency’ in farming and food consumption.

In the final session of the conference delegates were addressed by key policy-makers and legislators from the EU Institutions. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş outlined the importance of civil society making its voice heard in the reform of the CAP and encouraged the ARC to continue to engage with the legislative process following the publication of the Commission’s legislative proposals. Rapporteur of the European Parliament’s CAP towards 2020 report, Albert Deß stressed the importance of retaining funding at current levels. While welcoming the greening of direct payments he argued that this should be done without creating added bureaucratic burdens for farmers. Polish Agriculture and Rural Development Minister representing the EU Presidency, Marek Sawicki, stressed the need for equity of funding across the member states. The Commission is due to publish its legislative proposals in the Autumn.

http://www.arc2020.eu/

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DG Climate Action Stakehold Conference
March 17
Brussels, Belgium

The 17th of March DG-Climate Action organised a stakeholder conference on the Roadmap for a Low-Carbon Economy by 2050, where IFOAM EU was present. Connie Hedegaard and Jos Delbeke, Commissioners
for Climate Action gave keynote speeches on the main targets of the document and on possible outcomes (see graph to the left). The document should serve as a guideline for European policies in the domains of energy, agriculture, employment, etc. Hedegaard emphasised that investments in new technology will be required in order to achieve the 80% reduction of green house gasses (GHG) by 2050. However, the source of the investments was heavily discussed to determine if funding would be
primarily obtained from private or public sectors.Meanwhile, the Hungarian Presidency confirmed that the Roadmap on moving to a competitive
low carbon economy in 2050 will be discussed at the Informal Environment Council in Budapest & Gödöllo at the end of March (24-26).

Debate on GMO risk assessment and management with Commissioner Dalli
March 17
Brussels, Belgium

Commissioner Dalli chaired a public debate on "GMO risk assessment and management" on the 17th of March 2011 in Brussels. Members of the European Parliament, the competent authorities from EU countries', non-EU countries, industry groups and members, NGOs and scientific community members were invited to express their views in this first of a series of events
planned on different aspects of GMO policies. The pro-GMO side was very active in emphasizing the safety of their products and the need for quicker
approvals. Those critical of GMOs, presented comments on the loopholes in the risk assessment guidelines including uncertainties and the disregard
of critical outcomes found in various studies. IFOAM EU policy coordinator Antje Koelling, emphasized the lack of long term analysis in environmental
risk assessments of GMO plants as well as on the lack of consideration for socio-economic impacts in EU risk management.

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BioFach 2011
February 16-19
Nuremberg, Germany

Again, the world organic trade fair BioFach in Nuremberg, February 16-19, kept to its slogan ‘Where organic people meet’. Among the more than 2500 exhibitors and more than 44 500 visitors under the patronage of IFOAM, the team members of IFOAM EU could fully benefit from the presence of an abundance of organic stakeholders and key people. One way of reaching out to the visitors of the fair was by holding a number of workshops (for the IFOAM EU presentations click here) on the main working fields of IFOAM EU Group, ranging fromthe EU regulation for organic food and farming to European GMO policies, aquaculture, CAP and EU research needs in organic food and farming.

IFOAM EU used BioFach to strengthen the bonds between the organic sector and high level European policy makers: The IFOAM EU reception with the Hungarian Secretary of State for Rural Development from the Acting EU Council presidency, Jozsef Angyan, and the Head of Unit of organic farming from DG Agriculture from the European Commission, Jean-Francois Hulot, was well attended and drew the attention to the latest developments of EU policies in the context of organics
as well as to the 5th European Organic Congress.

An exclusive insight into organic food and farming was provided to Jean-Francois Hulot and Alina Ujupan, Member of the Cabinet of Agriculture Commissioner Ciolos: Marco Schlüter, director of IFOAM EU Group took them on a guided tourthrough BioFach, visiting the booths and learning from various member organisations of IFOAM EU.

The IFOAM EU corner at the IFOAM booth was always tended to by one of the IFOAM EU team members, answering to questions of BioFach visitors and handing out IFOAM EU publications. Also the various meetings with members and supporters of IFOAM EU were enriching and these personal encounters contributing to solidifying our working base.

 Click here for the IFOAM EU presentations click here