More About the Project Objectives

Overall Objectives
In order to comply with global environmental agreements major changes will be required in EU farming policies and practices over the next decade and beyond. The project will contribute to this by assessing current policies, identifying the most desirable changes in agricultural practice and identifying policy measures needed to deliver changes in practice. Development of the CAP, both in terms of the First Pillar direct payments and the Second Pillar rural development measures will be considered.

While some specific policies concerned with biodiversity have already been introduced into the CAP, for example agri-environment measures, relatively little attention has been paid to climate change issues. This project is an opportunity to consider the two priorities together and redress the balance. It aims to contribute to research on the interaction between international agreements and EU policy.

Detailed Objectives

Clarify how agriculture could contribute to meeting Kyoto Protocol and CBD obligations relative to other land uses and sectors of the economy, especially forestry.

Analyse appropriate agricultural measures, changes focusing on efficiency, effectiveness, compatibility with other objectives and constraints. Consider afforestation and forest management issues alongside agricultural adaptations and review interactions between CBD and Kyoto Protocol driven measures.

Assess how far changes at farm level and upwards require alterations in national or EU agriculture or rural development policy, as well as environmental, forestry and other policies.

Complete and disseminate an integrated strategy for implementation of the two agreements in the EU agricultural sector, including concrete policy recommendations applicable at a European level.

All written outputs will be placed on the project web page. These will include surveys and papers on:

Implications of the CBD for agriculture in all EU Member States;
Kyoto Protocol commitments for the EU and potential agricultural implications;
GHG reduction policies and agriculture measures in Member States;
GHG mitigation options, potential, abatement costs and the technical feasibility of mitigation options and production chains;
carbon sequestration profiles of alternative forestry measures and bioenergy options;
impacts of the Kyoto Protocol on forestry in the EU;
recommendations for appropriate measures in the forestry, agriculture and bioenergy sectors, their integration into the CAP and interaction with the CBD; and
a cost-benefit analysis of technical GHG mitigation options in agricultural production and bioenergy production chains.

A final report will be drafted in spring 2007, with publication expected in summer 2007 following a stakeholder meeting in Brussels.