The Swedish Consumers’ Association appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Common Agricultural Policy consultation. Our expertise is based on collective consumer views on food and food production in EU and will to a lesser extent go into detailed comments on the technical nature of the future CAP. Rather our focus is on consumer’s expectations on the development and content of future CAP. Consumer expectations will have to be met to establish a future public support for CAP, both in terms of budget spending but mostly in terms of policy adaptation to consumers expectations on safety, health, ethical and environment development. In other words a full long term policy shift towards a socially responsible food production in the EU based on the triple bottom line of sustainability.
The consumer’s support for CAPIt is clear that there is a large scepticism among consumers as to the effective use and even to the pure amount of taxpayer’s money that is allocated to the CAP. Having sais this and also being aware of the big challenges ahead for farmers, food production and the entire food chain it is vitally important to revise the CAP to be more “consumer friendly”, addressing the priorities of consumers, citizens and tax-payers. In the long perspective food production must be able to develop in a direction not relying on subsidies. (For certain low production agricultural areas with specific natural constraints we acknowledge there will in the foreseeable future be a need for continuous support to farmers).
Consumers do ask for a stable production of safe, healthy and environmentally friendly food produced under high ethical standards. At the same time consumers ask for promotion of organic farming and local production of food in most parts of the EU, preferably close to the residence of the consumer. Allowing for locally produced food with less transport costs and a positive contribution to the local agricultural landscape. A parallel development is a demand for often specialised and high-end quality products being available from different parts of the EU.
Farmer’s income and future financing of CAPIn the short perspective it is evident that a decoupled direct support is needed for farmers. But the broad direct support has to be connected to a continuous improvement of clear environment and ethical criteria’s. Not grasping this opportunity would be a loss of opportunity in pushing food production in a green and ethical direction, this including high standards on animal welfare issues. The existing CAP does unfairly punish progressive countries in relation to animal welfare. This has to be addressed in the revised CAP. Additionally there is an urgent need for sector support for organic farming and certain allocations for financial support and projects in support of more far-reaching investment for trying out new methods for sustainable agriculture and investing in existing good practices to achieve a truly green agriculture. The Swedish Consumers’ Association do support the suggested maximum level of support for each farm.
Recruitment of farming entrepreneursAs already stated, in the short time frame a continuous support for farmers is needed in a general system. But in a longer time frame farming must transform into an attractive business with potential for life quality for the farmer and his/her family and good business opportunity using new methods and market segments, adapting to what consumers really are willing to pay for. Not giving the entire answers on this development, it is still evident that the origin of farm products, organic farming and ethical production methods are vital parts of what will potentially make higher margin in the agricultural business possible.
Organic farmingOrganic production must be further prioritised in the CAP to establish a well functioning market with a stable supply of organic products. Organic production will maybe never constitute to the large-scale solution but is important to reduce hazardous chemicals, ensure biodiversity and maybe most importantly foster consumers to make active choice of food with inherent qualities worth a higher price.
Rural development and open agricultural landscapesThe value of a living countryside with its historical, cultural, recreational and biodiversity dimensions are not to be under estimated. Especially with the strong urbanisation trends there is a need to cater for a social and economical development in the countryside. The economic value for recreation and tourism are to be integrated and further explored as a possibility to create a dynamic and entrepreneurial countryside.
Animal welfareFood production, in a society claiming to move in a direction of sustainability, can not continue to support milk and meat production that does not respect basic animal health and welfare. Additionally not applying common high standards on animal welfare do not make market rules equal to farmers across boarders. Equally important is the general problem with the intensive meat and milk production that leads to a constant need for prevention of diseases through the use of antibiotics contributing to our major health and medical challenge in terms of resistant bacteria.
CAP and third countryThe EU must do its uttermost to minimise the negative effects of subsidies and totally avoid export subsidies and dumping to protect the interests of the developing world. Rather there is an urgent need to support developing countries in their food production. The general support to food production in the CAP can be seen as threatening fair competition from production in third countries. But a responsible and sustainable CAP in the EU will support consumers also in the developing world as the future indicate a shortage of supply and higher prices in the global food commodity market. Against this background a reduction of food production in the EU would not be a sustainable way forward.
Final conclusion on the Commission policy scenariosThe Swedish Consumers’ Association do support option 2 of the policy scenarios envisaged by the Commission. Option 2 capturing the opportunity for reform and move towards a more sustainable and balanced CAP between policy objectives, Member States and farmers and include more ‘green’ targeted measures. But the long term ambition of the EU have to be in line with the 3rd policy option moving towards a more fundamental reform focusing on environmental and climate change objectives through rural development, and moving away from income support and most market measures.
Stockholm 110124
Inger Persson Jens HenrikssonPresident International Officer
Blåslampan