Grow food, not problems: Europe’s next agricultural policy must work for nature

This July, the European Commission will present its proposal for Europe’s agriculture policy from 2027 onwards. It’s a critical moment. The decisions made now will shape how food is produced across Europe for years, if not decades, to come. It’s a chance to rethink how we invest in farming, ensuring that supporting farmers also means supporting nature, public health, and the climate.

Challenging times

At the most basic level, we all know farmers need healthy soils and pollinators for their crops to grow, and birds to keep rodents and pest insects in check. Paradoxically, today’s farming practices are the leading cause of biodiversity loss in the EU. Meanwhile, European farmers are battling with more and increasingly intense heatwaves, floods, and droughts — threats that a healthy natural environment can help mitigate.

Instead of helping, the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which accounts for one third of the EU’s budget, continues to pour billions of taxpayer euros into subsidies that support intensive farming. This model relies heavily on synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilisers, and excessive water use. These practices degrade soils, pollute water, and drive nature further into crisis, leaving farmers even more vulnerable.

A new path forward

Last September, the Strategic Dialogue, launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, brought together key players from across the sector to create a shared vision for the future of Europe’s food and farming systems. Participants included environmental NGOs like BirdLife, farmers’ unions such as Copa-Cogeca and industry representatives like EuroCommerce. The key takeaway from these discussions was that business-as-usual is not an option. There is an urgent need for systemic transformation in the EU’s food and farming landscape, one that ensures a fair transition for everyone, from farmers to consumers.

Now it’s time to act on that conclusion.

The actual solution

Many farmers are already leading the way: restoring hedgerows, improving soil health, rotating crops, and creating buffer zones to protect water and wildlife. But too often, these efforts go unrewarded or are stifled by rigid and complex regulations. Meanwhile, the lion’s share of subsidies continues to support environmentally harmful practices or ones with no clear environmental benefits.

We need a policy that truly values nature-friendly farming and that guarantees funding to support it. That’s why at least €35 billion a year must be dedicated in the EU budget to measures that protect, maintain, and restore nature. This is essential to supporting the farmers and land managers who help Europe adapt to climate change.

Our vision for a new EU policy for agriculture and food that puts people, nature, and farming first:

• Pay farmers who protect and restore nature
•  Set clear goals and ensure transparency and accountability so that the policy truly delivers.
• Support struggling farmers with real social safety nets
• Fund a just transition, not the status quo
• Stop funding harmful farming practices

The post-2027 CAP is a crucial chance to reshape Europe’s food system and a rare opportunity to put fairness and environmental sustainability at the heart of farming.

Policymakers must seize this moment. Support the farmers who are ready to lead. Protect the nature we all rely on. And stop wasting public money on practices that jeopardise our shared future.

Cover picture by INTREEGUE Photography/ Shutterstock