Agro Perspectiva - NewsCopyright 2002 Agrarika, ltd.tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//12024-03-19T10:44:50ZAgro Newshttp://www.agroperspectiva.com/en/news/info@agroperspectiva.comCAP - The Commission proposes simplifications that safeguard agricultural transitions!tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915252024-03-19T07:43:202024-03-19T07:43:20ZAgro NewsTo "adapt to changing realities" in the words of President Ursula von der Leyen, it was essential to carry out a rapid analysis of the situation and propose specific adjustments to make the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) implementation more efficient. This is what the European Commission has done swiftly. Copa and Cogeca share the Commission’s analysis and support these simplification measures that do not undermine farming transitions. <br>Following the presentation of its non-paper last February as an emergency response, the European Commission today presented a second set of simplification CAP adjustments to address medium-term concerns. The chaotic implementation of the new, highly complex CAP in January 2023 collided with climatic, geo-political and economic events that made it difficult, if not impossible, to meet certain technical or timetable obligations. Farming is an open-air activity that doesn’t take kindly to overly rigid administrative timetables. The Commission has reacted to some of the concerns expressed across Europe considering that "(…) adjustments are necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plans and cut red-tape." The Commission also acknowledged that those elements where part of the reasons for the widespread protest of famers across the Member States. <br>The objective is therefore clearly stated by the Commission and should be supported by all; to review the elements that are too rigid, complex, and overly administrative, without calling into question the direction of the agricultural transitions envisioned in the CAP. This also explains why the Commission planned no impact study on these adjustments. Therefore, one can only regret the polarisation campaign that started even before the publication of the proposed regulation creating a disconnection between the content of the actual text and its presentation in the European public debate. It is important to understand what the Commission has truly proposed:<br>• The changes to GAECs 5, 6 and 7 do not remove the obligations to comply with these standards but offer Member States and farmers a more flexible manner of attaining them considering the local extreme weather events and soil conditions. Regarding GAEC 7 we consider that this flexibility does not go far enough.<br>• The proposals regarding GAEC 8 make it now possible to achieve these objectives through voluntary measures in Pillar 1 (eco-schemes). However, the European Commission should allow the use of agro-environmental climate commitments for the same purpose.<br>• We believe that the proposal for exempting farmers under 10 hectares from CAP conditionality controls and penalties will greatly reduce the administrative burdens they face. <br>• In what regards the proposals impacting on the functioning of the food supply chain, we support measures to improve and strengthen farmers’ positioning in the chain especially those through producer organisations with the aim to ensure a fair remuneration. These must however be supplemented by an increased transparency in the functioning of the food chain and reduction of the associated administrative burden. We hope that both the Council and the European Parliament can rapidly go ahead with the analysis of the proposals in this area.<br>There are still many lessons that could have been learnt from the CAP implementation. For instance, it is fundamental that the Commission adjusts its process of analysis and approval of the National Strategic Plans to ensure that it becomes faster and more responsive to the need of Member States and farmers. In the end, farmers, foresters, and their cooperatives are the ones who will actually implement the requested transitions while ensuring EU food security, so it is necessary to hear them and build effective responses that work on the ground. We call upon the Council and the European Parliament to rapidly deliver on these proposals to allow an implementation by all Members States already in 2025, ensuring predictability and stability for the European farming community until 2027. <p>Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, we ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, while guaranteeing food security for 500 million people throughout Europe. <br>The European Union and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relationstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915212024-03-18T21:10:232024-03-18T21:10:23ZAgro NewsPresident Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd launched today the negotiations on a broad package of measures to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.<p>This follows the adoption of the Swiss and EU negotiating mandates on 8 and 12 March 2024, respectively. The two mandates authorise the Commission and Switzerland to negotiate the package outlined in the Common Understanding, endorsed by the Swiss Federal Council and the European Commission in November 2023.<p>The Common Understanding confirms both sides’ ambition to conclude the negotiation this year. The negotiating teams will meet tomorrow.<p>Mutual benefits of European and Swiss citizens and businesses<p>The negotiations aim at ensuring a level playing field for competition between EU and Swiss companies operating within the EU internal market and guarantee the protection of the rights of EU citizens working in Switzerland, including non-discrimination between citizens of different Member States.<p>Key elements of the package include:<p> Institutional provisions to be included in existing and future agreements with Switzerland related to the EU internal market, providing for dynamic alignment with EU law, its uniform interpretation and application, and dispute settlement;<br> State aid provisions in several existing and in future agreements with Switzerland related to the internal market;<br> An agreement allowing for Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes, including Horizon Europe;<br> An agreement on Switzerland’s regular and permanent financial contribution to social and economic cohesion in the EU as a counterpart to its participation in the internal market;<br> A relaunch of negotiations towards agreements on electricity, food safety and health and on the participation of Switzerland in the European Union Agencies for the Space Programme and for Railways.<p>Moreover, following the launch of the negotiations, the Commission opens the possibility to Swiss entities to apply for the European Research Council calls opening in 2024. Swiss applicants will be treated as if Switzerland is an associated country from admissibility and eligibility to evaluation, up until the preparation of grant agreements.<p>The EU and Switzerland are close neighbours with strong cross border links. The EU is Switzerland’s first trading partner, while Switzerland is the fourth largest partner for the EU. About one and a half million EU citizens live in Switzerland, and around 450 000 Swiss citizens live in the EU. A few hundred thousand of EU citizens cross the border daily to work.<p>Between March 2022 and November 2023, the EU and Switzerland were engaged in exploratory discussions on the future of their bilateral relations. On 15 December 2023, the Commission and the Federal Council published the Common Understanding that provides a written record of the outcome of the exploratory talks.<p>The EU mandate has been agreed in line with this Common Understanding, reflected in the Commission’s recommendation for a mandate, presented on 20 December 2023.<p>The mandate builds on the 2014 mandate for an institutional framework agreement as well as earlier mandates for agreements on electricity, health, food safety and the participation of Switzerland in the European Union Agencies for the Space Programme and for Railways.<p>Source: commission.europa.euCommission proposes targeted review of Common Agricultural Policy to support EU farmerstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915112024-03-18T08:05:382024-03-18T08:05:38ZAgro NewsDelivering on its commitment to ease administrative burden for EU farmers, the European Commission has today proposed to review certain provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aiming to deliver simplifications while maintaining a strong, sustainable and competitive policy for EU agriculture and food.<p>These proposals, related to conditionality and CAP Strategic Plans, aim to reduce the burden related to controls for EU farmers, and provide them with greater flexibility for complying with certain environmental conditionalities. National administrations will also benefit from greater flexibility to apply certain standards.<p>Today’s legislative proposal is a direct response to the hundreds of requests received from farmers’ representative organisations and Member States, and complements the Commission’s short-term actions already under way to help reduce administrative burden for farmers.<p>The proposal strikes the right balance between the necessity to maintain the CAP’s role in supporting the transition of European agriculture to more sustainable farming, the expectations of farmers and Member States, and the objective to reach a quick agreement between the European Parliament and the Council.<p>It is carefully calibrated and targeted to maintain a high level of environment and climate ambition in the current CAP.<p>To respond to all concerns expressed in the past weeks, the Commission is also sending to the Council and the European Parliament a reflection paper outlining several measures to improve the position of farmers in the food supply chain. This list of possible actions will be discussed with agriculture ministers in the next Council meeting.<p>Today’s package of support for EU farmers delivers on the last conclusions from the European Council that called on the Commission and Council to address the challenges facing the EU agricultural sector.<p>President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: "The Commission is taking strong and swift action to support our farmers in a time when they are dealing with numerous challenges and concerns. Today’s proposals — crafted in close cooperation with farmers, key stakeholders, our Member States and MEPs — offer targeted flexibilities to help farmers do their vital work with greater confidence and certainty. We are sending a clear message that agricultural policy adapts to changing realities while staying focused on the key priority of protecting the environment and adapting to climate change. The Commission will continue to stand steadfastly by our farmers, who maintain EU food security and serve at the frontline of our climate and environment action."<p>Adapting conditionalities to new realities<p>In the first year of implementation of the current CAP (2023–2027), EU farmers faced challenges to fully comply with some of the standards beneficial to the environment and climate called "good agricultural and environmental conditions" (GAECs). Because most of the CAP payments that farmers receive are linked to this set of nine standards, they are also referred to as conditionalities.<p>The Commission therefore proposes a targeted review of certain conditionalities in the Regulation on CAP Strategic Plans. The review relates to the following conditionalities:<p> GAEC 8 on non-productive features: EU farmers will have to maintain existing landscape features on their land but will no longer be obliged to dedicate a minimum part of their arable land to non-productive areas, such as fallow land. Instead, they may choose, on a voluntary basis, to keep a share of their arable land non-productive — or establish new landscape features (such as hedges or trees) — and thereby receive additional financial support via an eco-scheme that all Member States will have to offer in their CAP Strategic Plans. All EU farmers will be incentivised to maintain non-productive areas beneficial for biodiversity without fearing loss of income.<br> GAEC 7 on crop rotation: EU farmers will be able to fulfil this requirement by choosing to either rotate or diversify their crops, depending on the conditions they are facing and if their country decides to include the option of crop diversification in their CAP Strategic Plan. Flexibility to carry out crop diversification instead of crop rotation only will enable farmers affected by regular drought or excessive rainfall to comply more easily with this requirement.<br> GAEC 6 on soil cover during sensitive periods: Member States will have much more flexibility in setting what they define as sensitive periods, and the practices allowed to fulfil this requirement, in light of their national and regional conditions, and in the context of increasing weather variability.<p>In addition to these specific changes, the Commission proposes that Member States may exempt certain crops, soil types or farming systems from complying with requirements on tillage, soil cover, and crop rotation/diversification (respectively GAECS 5, 6, 7). Targeted exemptions to allow ploughing to restore permanent grassland in Natura 2000 sites in case it is damaged due to predators or invasive species could also be possible (GAEC 9). These exemptions may be set for the whole CAP period in the CAP Strategic Plans. They should be limited in terms of area and established only where they prove necessary to address specific problems. The European Commission will review the necessary amendments to validate the exemptions and maintain the consistency with the overall environmental objectives of the Plans.<p>In extreme cases of adverse weather conditions preventing farmers to properly work and comply with the GAEC requirements, Member States may also introduce temporary derogations. These derogations should be limited in time and only apply to the beneficiaries affected.<p>To ensure that EU countries can adapt more frequently their CAP Strategic Plans to changing conditions, the Commission proposes to double the number of amendments allowed each year. Any successful simplification exercise must be carried out in close cooperation with national administrations.<p>Last but not least, the Commission proposes to exempt small farms of under 10 hectares from controls and penalties related to compliance with conditionality requirements. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden related to controls for small farmers who represent 65% of CAP beneficiaries.<p>The CAP Strategic Plans allocate 32% of the total CAP budget (around ˆ98 billion) to voluntary actions advancing the environmental, climate and animal welfare objectives. These proposed changes maintain this unprecedented budget and provide increased flexibility to reach the CAP’s environmental objectives.<p>In addition, Member States will have to review their CAP Strategic Plans by 31 December 2025 if specific environmental and climate acts (for example on conservation of wild birds and natural habitats of wild fauna and flora, and protection of waters) are updated at EU level.<p>Improving farmers’ remuneration and their position in the food supply chain<p>Reinforcing the position of farmers in the food supply chain is one of the key objectives of the CAP. There are already several measures in place at EU level to ensure more fairness and protect farmers against unfair trading practices. While the degree of trust and cooperation between actors in the chain is increasing, the full implementation and enforcement of the available policy tools take time, and more needs to be done.<p>To contribute to the ongoing discussions with agriculture ministers and the European Parliament, the Commission presents several options for actions that could be taken forward in the short and medium term.<p>First, as part of an immediate deliverable, the Commission will launch an observatory of production costs, margins and trading practices in the agri-food supply chain. Composed of representatives from all sectors along the food supply chain and representatives of Member States and the Commission, this observatory will increase the transparency on costs and margins in the chain by making data public, and exchanging information, with a view to building trust between the stakeholders and establishing a common diagnosis of the situation. It is expected to hold its first meeting this Summer.<p>Second, the Commission proposes options for targeted improvements to the current legal framework set in the Regulation establishing a common market organisation of agricultural products (CMO). These options include reinforcing the rules applicable to contracts that farmers conclude with buyers in the food industry or retail, and strengthening producer organisations to allow farmers to cooperate and act collectively in a more effective way vis-à-vis other actors in the food supply chain. The aim is to help correct imbalances in the chain while preserving the fundamental principle of market orientation. In the same vein, the Commission proposes the possibility of new rules on cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices. Currently, at least 20% of the agricultural and food products consumed in a Member State come from another Member State. There is a need to enhance the cooperation of national enforcement authorities, notably by improving the exchange of information and collection of penalties.<p>Third, the Commission will conduct a thorough evaluation of the Directive on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, in force since 2021. A first report will be delivered in Spring 2024 presenting a consolidated state of play of the implementation of this Directive by Member States. This report will then feed into a more detailed evaluation that the Commission will present in 2025, which could be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals.<p>Discussions with Member States on these possible measures will take place in several formats, most notably the upcoming agriculture Council on 26 March.<p>Background<p>The Commission has worked hard to offer timely and concrete actions responding to farmers’ concerns for reducing administrative burden. This work has been conducted in close cooperation with farmers’ representatives and Member States, with the valuable help of the Belgian EU Presidency. It is now of utmost importance that co-legislators find an agreement on today’s legislative proposal in a timely manner to reassure farmers that these new measures can apply as soon as possible.<p>The conditionality system and budgetary ringfencing, alongside an array of other key tools of the CAP’s green architecture, remain in place to ensure an overall higher level of ambition of the current CAP compared to the past. The changes proposed today will lead to a more predictable policy that does not require yearly derogations and disproportionate efforts from farmers.<p>Last year, the Commission already showed a flexible and pragmatic approach by providing derogations on the conditionality on crop rotation (GAEC 7) and land lying fallow (GAEC 8). This year, the partial derogation on land lying fallow for EU farmers for 2024 was confirmed on 13 February. In addition to this derogation, the Commission launched on 22 February a range of short-term actions that are currently ongoing or have already been implemented. For example, the change on the calculation of the area of permanent grassland was adopted on 12 March to take into account the situation of farmers converting from livestock to arable crops.<p>On 7 March, the Commission launched a survey on simplification directly targeted at EU farmers to identify the complexity stemming from CAP rules as well as other EU rules for food and agriculture. In parallel, an online survey gathering the views of farmers and smaller suppliers on unfair trading practices has been running and closed today, 15 March.<p>Member States play a key role in keeping the administrative burden for farmers limited and proportionate to achieving the objectives of EU legislation. It is essential that no requirements that go beyond what is requested in the CAP legislation are imposed. This is why any successful simplification exercise must be carried out in close cooperation with the national administrations and farmers themselves. The Commission will keep facilitating exchanges of good practices.<p>Source: commission.europa.euCargill Power CanolaTM Program Helps Farmers Take Advantage of Growing Bioenergy Market Opportunities for Canadian Canolatag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914962024-03-15T21:36:492024-03-15T21:36:49ZAgro NewsCanadian canola growers will soon be able to benefit from new and expanding market opportunities for renewable fuel feedstocks linked to bioenergy with the new Cargill Power CanolaTM program. Enrollment begins this month for the 2024 crop year.<p>"Through the Cargill Power Canola program, Canadian canola growers can maximize the value of their canola and be on the leading edge of growing market opportunities in both Canada and export destinations," said Gabe Afolayan, softseeds commercial leader for Cargill. "Agriculture has been serving food and fuel markets for decades, and with an unwavering commitment to sustainability, we’re going to continue to support both markets as the global energy transition evolves."<p>Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations, the U. S. Renewable Fuel Standard, and the 2BS voluntary sustainability program in the EU all recognize canola as a low carbon intensity feedstock for biofuels when grown using sustainable practices. Through the Cargill Power Canola program, Cargill makes it seamless for growers to access the value of these global markets. To qualify for the programs, canola must be grown on land that is not designated a protected area; forested or wooded, native or biodiverse grassland, a watershed or riparian zone, or home to "at-risk-species". Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recognizes all Canadian cropland to have met these criteria so Canadian growers can simply complete the Cargill Power Canola enrollment process to fully register.<p>How to Enroll<p>Cargill has enhanced the features of the CargillAg.ca portal to enable seamless access to a simple three-step enrollment process to help growers take advantage of multiple markets for traceable canola and optimize the market value of their canola crop. Farmers can go to CargillAg.ca and log in to learn more.<p>Cargill offers a full suite of solutions for farmers across western Canada — from grain marketing and advisory services to crop inputs and agronomic expertise. Cargill is a global leader in oilseed processing and currently operates two canola crush facilities in Camrose, Alberta, and Clavet, Saskatchewan. Cargill has made recent investments in its canola crush infrastructure in Canada. Cargill’s new canola processing facility being built in Regina, Sask. is expected to come online in 2025. <br>FAO will provide Ukrainian farmers with soybean and sunflower seeds for spring sowing campaigntag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914952024-03-15T21:19:592024-03-15T21:19:59ZAgro NewsThe Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine are launching a new programme to support Ukrainian farmers by providing soybean and sunflower seeds for the spring sowing campaign.<p>The programme is open for small and medium-sized farms and agricultural producers from frontline oblasts with land size ranging of 10 to 500 hectares. The amount of the support provided will depend on the size of cultivated land. In total, more than 3 000 farmers from Chernihivska, Donetska, Dnipropetrovska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Mykolaivska, Sumska and Zaporizka oblasts will receive the assistance.<p>Applications for the programme can be submitted through the State Agrarian Registry (SAR) until 24 March 2024. Please note that submitting an application is not a guarantee of receiving assistance.<p>After processing and analysis all received applications, selected programme participants will receive confirmation through the SAR and will be notified of the time and place of receiving assistance. Farmers will need to collect the provided seeds from the warehouse.<p>Source: Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine FAO urges more cooperation in banana sector, significant for some least developed and low-income food-deficit countries and smallholder farmerstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914582024-03-13T21:27:162024-03-13T21:27:16ZAgro NewsThe 4th Global Conference of The World Banana Forum (WBF), hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), opened at FAO headquarters today to discuss an array of challenges faced by banana producers, including the impacts of the climate crisis, high energy and fertilizer costs, and the spread of the destructive Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease.<p>In his opening remarks to the WBF, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the importance of banana in several aspects: "Bananas are among the most produced, traded and consumed fruits globally, with more than 1000 varieties produced worldwide they provide vital nutrients to many populations."<p>Qu noted that the banana sector is particularly significant in some of the least developed and low-income food-deficit countries, where it contributes not only to household food security as a staple, but also to job creation and income generation as a cash crop. The Director-General also highlighted that he hoped that the conference would benefit smallholders the most as they continue to be a priority.<p>"Income from growing bananas can account for up to three quarters of the total monthly household income for smallholder farmers and generate over $10 billion in export revenues annually, the bulk of which accrues to developing countries."<p>The conference is aimed at finding ways to boost the banana sector, which faces several constraints including high costs of transportation, energy, and inputs, in particular fertilizer prices, and the spread of diseases such as TR4.<p>In response to the various constraints, the sector should "turn these challenges into opportunities through close collaboration by partners across the banana sector," the FAO Director-General said. He called for all stakeholders to work together to boost investments and adopt more sustainable production practices.<p>Qu also noted that high inflation has reduced the purchasing power of consumers, placing bananas under an increasing competition from various tropical fruits. "Better market access will require substantial investment of resources, including financial."<p>Among other participants in the Forum’s opening event, were Danilo Palacios, Minister of Agriculture of Ecuador, the world’s largest banana exporter, as well as representatives from Belgium, Cameroon, the European Commission, the International Labour Organization, the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Fairtrade Small Producers and Workers (CLAC) and the Coordinating Body of Latin American Banana and Agro-Industrial Unions (COLSIBA). <p><b>Diversification</b><p>The spread of diseases is a big concern in the sector. In 2019, TR4 reached several countries in Latin America after many years of spreading worldwide. As the Cavendish variety, which forms the bulk of banana exports, is vulnerable to the disease, the FAO Director-General said that variety diversification should be a key strategy to ensure the future of banana trade.<p>However, he noted that "acceptance by retailers and consumers of different varieties remains a challenge." <p>In this context, the Conference is also organizing a Banana Diversity Tasting Event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of conserving and utilizing the genetic diversity of bananas.<p>Banana producers also face the daunting challenge of climate change. Increasingly frequent droughts, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters have badly affected the Latin American and Asian producers who account for more than 95 percent of the global banana trade.<p>The agricultural sector is both a contributor to, and a victim of, climate change and FAO has consistently argued that rapid and forceful actions by all stakeholder groups are needed to address it<p><b>Costs and disruptions</b><p>Another issue which the Forum is focusing on is the effects on the banana trade of high transportation costs and shipping disruptions in various areas of the world, including in the Black Sea, Red Sea and Panama Canal, caused by conflicts, geopolitical tensions and low water levels.<p>On the demand side, preoccupying participants meanwhile is the fact that inflation has reduced the purchasing power of consumers, while more stringent requirements in some major markets can make the production and export of bananas more complicated. These cover a range of aspects, including fruit quality, pesticide residue levels, and environmental and social sustainability, and affect smaller players in the market disproportionately. However, they may also offer producers opportunities for enhancing their operations, brand reputation and market access, with the needed substantial investments of time and resources.<p>The forum, which was established in 2009, offers its members a range of tools and resources to help the sector become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. These include a practical tool for measuring carbon and water footprints, being piloted in nine countries and a Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI), being implemented in Ecuador and Cameroon.The European Commission sets out key steps for managing climate risks to protect people and prosperitytag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914542024-03-13T14:51:162024-03-13T14:51:16ZAgro NewsThe European Commission has today published a Communication on managing climate risks in Europe. It sets out how the EU and its Member States can better anticipate, understand, and address growing climate risks. It further presents how they can prepare and implement policies that save lives, cut costs, and protect prosperity across the EU.<p>The Communication responds to the first ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA), a scientific report by the European Environment Agency. Together, they are a call to action for all levels of government, as well as the private sector and civil society. They set out clearly how all major sectors and policy areas are exposed to climate-related risks, how severe and urgent the risks are, and how important it is to have clarity on who has the responsibility to address the risks.<p>2023 was the hottest year on record. According to the February report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global average temperature for the preceding 12 months had surpassed the threshold of 1.5 degrees set in the Paris Agreement. As the EU is taking comprehensive action to reduce its emissions and limit climate change, we must also take action to adapt to already unavoidable changes, and to protect people and prosperity. According to the Eurobarometer survey, 77% of Europeans see climate change as a very serious problem, and more than one in three Europeans (37%) already feel personally exposed to climate risks.<p>Today’s Communication shows how the EU can effectively get ahead of the risks and build greater climate resilience. The Commission is proposing a series of actions and will work with other EU Institutions, Member States, regional and local authorities, citizens and businesses to follow up on these suggestions.<p><b>Equipping European society for greater climate resilience</b><p>The Commission Communication underscores how action to improve climate resilience is essential for maintaining societal functions and protecting people, economic competitiveness and the health of the EU’s economies and companies. It is also imperative for a just and fair transition. Investing upfront in reducing our vulnerability to climate risk will incur much lower costs than the sizable sums required to recover from climate impacts like droughts, floods, forest fires, diseases, crop failures or heat waves. By conservative estimates, these damages could otherwise reduce EU GDP by about 7% by the end of the century. Investments in climate-resilient buildings, transport and energy networks could also create significant business opportunities and benefit more widely the European economy, generating highly skilled jobs, and affordable clean energy.<p>To help the EU and its Member States to manage climate risks, the Communication identifies four main categories of action:<p>Improved governance: The Commission calls on Member States to ensure that the risks and responsibilities are better understood, informed by best evidence and dialogue. Identifying the ‘risk owners’ is a critical first step. The Commission calls for closer cooperation on climate resilience between national, regional and local levels to ensure that knowledge and resources are made available where they are most effective. Climate resilience is increasingly addressed across all sectoral policies, but shortcomings persist in planning and implementation at national level. The Communication notes that Member States have taken the first steps to include climate resilience in their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).<br>Better tools for empowering risk owners: Policymakers, businesses, and investors need to better understand the interlinkages between climate risks, investment, and long-term financing strategies. This can provide the right market signals to help bridge the current resilience and protection gaps. The Commission will improve existing tools to help regional and local authorities better prepare through robust and solid data. The Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) will provide access to key granular and localised data, products, applications, indicators and services. To help with emergencies, in 2025 the Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS) will become available to communicate alert information to people, businesses and public authorities even when terrestrial alert systems are down. Major data gaps will be reduced thanks to the proposed Forest Monitoring Law and Soil Monitoring Law, which will improve early warning tools for wildfires and other disasters and contribute to more accurate risk assessments. More broadly, the Commission will promote the use of available monitoring, forecasting and warning systems.<br>Harnessing structural policies: structural policies in Member States can be efficiently used to manage climate risks. Three structural policy areas hold particular promise for managing climate risks across sectors: better spatial planning in the Member States; embedding climate risks in planning and maintaining critical infrastructure; linking EU-level solidarity mechanisms, like the UCPM, the EU Solidarity Fund, and Cohesion policy structural investments, with adequate national resilience measures. The civil protection systems and assets must be future-proofed, through investing in EU and Member State disaster risk management, response capacities and expertise that can be rapidly deployed across borders. This should fully integrate climate risks in the disaster risk management processes.<br>Right preconditions for financing climate resilience: Mobilising sufficient finance for climate resilience, both public and private will be crucial. The Commission stands ready support Member States to improve and mainstream climate-risk budgeting in national budgetary processes. To ensure that EU spending is resilient to climate change, the Commission will integrate climate adaptation considerations in the implementation of EU programmes and activities as part of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle. The Commission will convene a temporary Reflection Group on mobilising Climate Resilience Financing. The Reflection Group will bring together key industrial players and representatives of public and private financial institutions to reflect on how to facilitate climate resilience finance. The Commission calls on Member States to take account of climate risks when including environmental sustainability criteria in competitive public procurement tenders, for instance through the Net-Zero Industry Act.<br>From a sectoral perspective, the Commission puts forward concrete suggestions for action in six main impact clusters: natural ecosystems, water, health, food, infrastructure and built environment, and the economy. The implementation of existing EU legislation is an important precursor to successfully managing risks in many of these areas, and key measures are outlined in the Communication.<p>While the Communication focusses on managing climate risks within the European Union, the EU is also active at the international level in addressing climate risks, and a large share of our international climate finance goes to adaptation measures. The Commission will continue to share experience, knowledge, and tools on climate risk management internationally and include climate risk management in bilateral and multilateral discussions.<p>A historically high acceleration in climate disruption in 2023, saw global warming reaching 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels, and ocean temperatures and Antarctic Ocean ice loss breaking records by a wide margin. Surface air temperature has risen even more sharply in Europe, with the latest five-year average at 2.2°C above the pre-industrial era. Europe is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world.<p>To avoid the worst outcomes of climate change and protect lives, health, the economy and ecosystems, emissions need to be reduced. While the EU is taking action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, climate impacts are already with us, and the risks will continue to increase, meaning that climate adaptation measures are also essential.<p>The European Climate Risk Assessment identifies 36 major climate risks for Europe within five broad clusters: ecosystems, food, health, infrastructure, and the economy. More than half of the identified risks demand more action now and eight of them are particularly urgent, mainly to conserve ecosystems, protect people against heat, protect people and infrastructure from floods and wildfires.<p>Since the adoption of the EU’s first Adaptation Strategy in 2013, and the updated Adaptation Strategy adopted in February 2021 under the von der Leyen Commission, the EU and its Member States have made considerable progress in understanding the climate risks they face and in preparing for them. National climate risk assessments are increasingly used to inform adaptation policy development. However, societal preparedness is still low because of a lag between policy development and implementation and the rapid increase in risk levels. Coreper and COMENVI approve the provisional agreement on EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914342024-03-12T18:25:052024-03-12T18:25:05ZAgro NewsThe European Parliament’s Committee on Environment voted on the provisional agreement on the Carbon Removal Certification Framework and was approved by a large majority of 56 votes, with 19 against and 5 abstentions. The vote follows the approval of the text in Coreper, which took place on Friday 8 March. The text will now need to be formally adopted by both institutions (both in plenary and the Council), following revisions by lawyer-linguists, before it can be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force.<br>From the outset of the initiative launched by the Commission, Copa and Cogeca have backed the establishment of this pioneering framework. However, the compromise reached is not flawless, especially concerning livestock farming and complex additional criteria.<br>The core issue in this proposal was obviously the definition of the scope of activities that could be included in the final framework. The agreement extends to soil emission reductions and maintains an open definition of carbon removals which was a key claim for Copa and Cogeca. <br>However, we regret that the proposed scope of application fails to properly and timely recognise the importance of livestock management practices. In fact, the inclusion of methane reductions will only be considered in 2026. This political compromise was reached through a crucial concession in the European Parliament’s negotiating mandate. On the ground, this decision makes no sense as for livestock farms already involved in carbon farming mechanisms, this is a step backwards, and for those who saw carbon farming as a new tool, it’s a new disillusion. <br>This compromise simply fails to recognise obvious synergies between livestock farming, land management practices capable of capturing carbon, and of enhancing alternative energy sources! Yet at least the Commission has been asked to develop the methodologies to include emissions from enteric and manure fermentation. Such methodologies should be ready by 2026. <br>Carbon farming activities will also have "to generate at least a biodiversity co-benefit", promoting soil health and avoiding land degradation while "complying with the principle of the cascading use of biomass". For Copa and Cogeca, it is clear that co-benefits should be considered as additional benefits, not mandatory requirements. <br>Farmers and agri-cooperatives will be closely monitoring these developments, as it is essential for the system’s popularity that it remains simple to understand and apply.<br>Following the adoption of both institutions, the Commission will (with the support of the expert group) develop tailored certification methodologies through delegated acts. The expert group will have its next meeting from 15th to 17th April where items such as factors to establish a baseline and additionality should be considered. Due consideration must be paid to the specific characteristics of each sector. <p>INTA MEPs fail EU producers by dismissing potential improvements to Ukraine ATMstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914332024-03-12T18:24:162024-03-12T18:24:16ZAgro NewsThe INTA Committee voted on the renewal of the ATMs for Ukraine. Despite legitimate concerns and protests, MEPs have decided not to support even limited amendments that would have made this proposal a real compromise. Just a few weeks after all the EU political parties took the floor to praise and support European farming, their votes are falling short to show a real sense of concern for our agriculture!<br>Whilst the needed support to Ukraine is never to be put in question, the farming community, and in particular the affected producers in the sensitive sectors of cereals, sugar, poultry, eggs, and honey, are being asked to carry the disproportionate burden of this trade liberalisation. Deciding to ignore the amendments, even of its own MEPs, by not proposing at least the adjustment to the reference period, which would have shown some level of understanding, the Committee has decided to have none.<br>As we have repeatedly pointed out over the last few months, the consequences regarding the renewal of Ukraine’s ATMs are of paramount strategic significance and will have profound consequences.<br>The MEPs and political parties should not expect the farming community’s understanding that due to procedural and time aspects, their concerns and asks are being ignored. While there are certainly additional responsibilities from the European Commission’s side for publishing this proposal so late, when the calendar of this year was well known, there is no excuse for so blatantly ignoring the concerns of the farming community, as well as those expressed by MEPs in COM AGRI.<br>With all eyes now on the MEPs and their actions during the next plenary in Strasbourg, it won’t be acceptable that there aren’t any final amendments to the proposal. Hence, we once again call for a real show of support and understanding, that doesn’t stop at words!<br>On behalf of the following associations:<br>AVEC — Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU countries<br>CEFS — European Association of Sugar Manufacturers<br>CEPM — European Confederation of Maize Production<br>CIBE — International Confederation of European Beet Growers<br>COPA-COGECA — The united voice of farmers and their cooperatives in the European Union<br>EUWEP — European Union of Wholesale with Eggs, Egg Products, Poultry and Game<br> <p>Soybean meal is expected to be a more competitive feed ingredient on higher global supplies.tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1914252024-03-12T06:10:452024-03-12T06:10:45ZAgro NewsAccording to the report of the USDA Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade (March 2024), Diverging Trends for U. S. Soybean and Soybean Meal Exports in 2023 Calendar year (CY) 2023 exports of U.S. soybeans and soybean meal diverged, with a marked decrease in soybeans compared to record high soybean meal. Year‐over‐year soybean exports shrunk 15 percent by volume (48.7 million tons) and 19 percent by value ($27.9 billion). Conversely, U.S. soybean meal exports rose 20 percent by volume (14.1 million tons) and 21 percent by value ($7.4 billion).<br>Soybean exports for 2023 fell by value to three of the top four markets from last year: China (‐15 percent), Mexico (‐24 percent), and Japan (‐26 percent). Major contributors to this decline include record Brazil soybean production and higher crush demand in the United States, which contributed to higher prices for U.S. soybeans. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union were up 32 percent by value, in part due to stronger Chinese demand for Brazil soybeans. Soybean meal has become one of the top ten exported U.S. agricultural products following 5 years of steady value growth.<br>In 2023, exports of soybean meal rose to record levels on ample exportable supplies due to high domestic crush supported by U.S. biofuel policy and lower output from Argentina due to drought. The Philippines was the top market for U.S. soybean meal, raising imports of U.S. product by 25<br>percent. South American markets, including Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, also grew imports of U.S.<br>soybean meal owing to reduced supply from Argentina. Lower meal supplies from Argentina also contributed to a near‐doubling of U.S. exports to the European Union, especially to Ireland and Poland.<br>Looking ahead, U.S. soybean exports are forecast to further decline in marketing year 2023/24. This forecast is based on the expectation that domestic crush continues to grow as well as continuing large soybean production in South America. Meanwhile, U.S. soybean meal exports are expected to grow<br>further in 2023/24. However, ample global supplies due to higher soybean processing in South America will prevent robust export gains. Soybean meal is expected to be a more competitive feed ingredient on higher global supplies.<p>AGRO PERSPECTIVA offers <a href= http://agroperspectiva.com/en/agro_plus/grains_oil/> Agro + "Ukrainian Grain & Oilseed Market"</a> weekly analytical bulletin.<br>Concerning subscription please contact: <a href="MAILTO: client@agroperspectiva.com "> client@agroperspectiva.com</a> <br>Concerning subscription please contact: +380 67 596 46 52 (WhatsApp).<br>