Measures that encourage green farming and enforce environmental rules form a central part of the CAP. There is a political commitment 40% of the CAP budget has to be climate-relevant and strongly support the general commitment to dedicate 10% of the EU budget to biodiversity objectives.
Challenges and help for farmers
Experience shows that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in such a diverse sector. Instead, solutions need to be tailored to each region. The Commission is committed to helping farmers and businesses shift to doing business in ways best suited to their specific geographic and climatic conditions.
Environmental rules are not designed to undermine farming but rather to help the sector become more resilient in the long term – and at the same time, more sustainable. Farmers are already meeting targets, for example by using methods that improve biodiversity and capture carbon from the air. They are also managing soil and water in ways that will make their farms more viable.
It’s not a choice between producing enough food and protecting the environment – farmers can do both.
Rewarding sustainable practices
Farmers who protect or restore the benefits people get from nature (‘ecosystem services’) should be rewarded. This is why EU agricultural funding in 2023-27 covers specific measures and incentives to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices, including:
- national agri-environmental schemes
- support for organic farming
- payments for ecosystem services.
EU legislation outlines clear objectives for shifting to more sustainable agricultural practices and provides payments as support along the way.
EU investments in sustainability
The CAP Strategic Plans allocate:
EU countries can design these tools and target them to their specific needs, to make the most of them.
The Commission’s latest study highlights the potential of CAP Strategic Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 31 million tonnes annually.
Food for Europe podcast
44. Farming and the environment: can they be reconciled?27 June 2024
40. One country, two systems: eco-schemes on farms in Belgium15 February 2024
39. Innovation, digitisation and precision farming: the solution for sustainable agriculture in Europe?1 February 2024
37. Agrivoltaics: a promising alliance between solar power and farming16 November 2023
35. Water crisis: the promise of precision agriculture18 October 2023
20. More sustainable pest control: what does the future look like?18 October 2022
Disclaimer: the text of this publication is for information purposes only and is not legally binding.
Related links
More information
At a glance information on EU organic policy, the organic logo and legislation relating to the organic sector, as well as frequently asked questions.
Eco-schemes support farmers who adopt or maintain farming practices that contribute to EU environmental and climate goals.
The EU promotes vibrant rural areas. Together with market measures and income support, rural development measures are at the heart of the CAP.
National level CAP Strategic Plans combine a wide range of local and EU-level objectives to deliver targeted, tangible results.
More facts on the EU's farming policy
Food for Europe podcast
The Food for Europe podcast is a European podcast series on food and farming, featuring interviews with key players in European agricultural policy.
