More progress on fixing farming in Europe14 July 2011
Another stampede of emails has helped to make the European Parliament vote in favour of planet-friendly farming.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which sets out European policy on farming, is being reformed. Pressure on the agricultural committee from Friends of the Earth and our allies meant it added lots of good amendments to its plan for the future of farming.
Members of the European Parliament have now shown their support for a better farming system - thanks in part to timely lobbying from Friends of the Earth activists.
Many of the changes we were urging MEPs to support got voted through - taking us closer to a greener and fairer CAP. The amendments were designed to:
- Help livestock farmers reduce their dependence on imported soy.
- Ensure fairer distribution of funds between large and small farms.
- Promote sustainable farming systems.
- Protect natural resources.
- Contribute to a fairer relationship between farmers and retailers.
- Stop subsidies from destroying farming in developing countries.
Keeping the pressure on
There are more stages to pass through before this becomes law.
We need to keep a close eye on the European Parliament to make sure they keep their promises when this is made into law.
And we need to ensure our UK Farming Minister Jim Paice negotiates in favour of planet-friendly farming.
Please look out for more CAP actions - and in the meantime remind Jim Paice to keep his promise to deal with the damage caused by factory farms.
Thank you.
© Leonard John Matthews
