How can science and farmers’ voices together shape the future of European agriculture?
On 11 November, leaders from the Europe-LAND consortium presented our latest research at the European Parliament in Brussels during a science–policy exchange on “How the CAP can drive sustainable farming practices.”
The event, hosted by MEPs Maria Walsh, Maria Noichl, and Michal Wiezik, brought together policymakers, researchers, and farmers for an open discussion on how evidence and experience can guide the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) toward greater sustainability and resilience.
Several European parliamentary members and assistants to MEPs joined the exchange, where we presented in collaboration with CAP4GI and Agroecology-TRANSECT projects, key messages of relevance for the CAP proposal currently under preparation.
The Europe-LAND presentation, delivered by Assoc. Prof. Martin Rudbeck Jepsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Dr. Franziska Wolf (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany), and Dr. Mihaela Sima (Romanian Academy, Romania), shared insights into how farmers across the EU respond to the CAP and perceive biodiversity and climate change challenges.
Four farmers from Denmark, Romania, and Belgium shared real-world perspectives reflecting both the challenges and opportunities in implementing sustainable farming practices.
Key messages discussed included:
- Simplifying CAP instruments and increasing flexibility for diverse farming systems
- Incentivizing biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient practices
- Increasing farmers’ participation in shaping agricultural policy
- Encouraging regional customization and data sharing across Member States
This event represents the importance of connecting science and practice in shaping the next CAP, ensuring that the voices of farmers and the insights of research go hand in hand in Europe’s agricultural transition.