How well do the proposals of the Common Agricultural Policy review fit with EPHA’s goals for changes in farming and food policy?
Three years ago, the European Public Health Alliance produced a consultative document on food, health and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). (1) It was signed by 50 groups and individuals concerned with health, nutrition, environment and social justice in Europe. Its purpose was to outline demands for policy change, and to provide a focus for joint action by non-governmental organisations and other public interest groups in the promotion of healthier food production, social justice and environmental sustainability in relation to future CAP reform and EU enlargement. It has guided the work of EPHA in this area ever since.
The EPHA statement identifies five policy priorities for changes to CAP:
1.To improve farming policies and food practices to support health
What we eat greatly affects our health. The World Health Organization estimates that a safe, healthy diet for everyone would save the lives of one million Europeans each year. Access to healthy food is a human right emphasised in the WHO’s policy framework "Health 21" (2). The recent CAP reform proposals are a step in the right direction. Even better would be to re-orientate policies and practice towards improving the European diet.
EPHA would like to see CAP increase financial support to promote healthy consumption and production, including an increased availability of fruits and vegetables. This should be accompanied by health promotion efforts to raise awareness of the risk associated with a healthy diet. Programmes and policies to stimulate changes in diet can work. The best known success story is the North Karelia Project in Finland, where a comprehensive and dynamic programme has reduced coronary heart disease by 65% during the past 20 years.
Inner city vegetable growing
A gardening scheme in North London offers the possibility that organic pumpkins, peppers and tomatoes may become a regular feature at meal times of the residents involved. Encouraging people to eat a healthy diet is a key theme for the project in an area that suffers from high levels of infant mortality, mental health problems, coronary heart disease and diabetes. The "Healthy Harlesden" initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of residents via a range of activities and services that raise awareness of healthy living.
Source: New Opportunities Fund, website: www.nof.org.uk
While certain foods can benefit health, tobacco and smoking can only harm it. EPHA would like to see an end to support for tobacco farming. Just over a year ago, the European Commission expressed an intention to phase out the massive subsidies given to tobacco farmers in Europe (nearly 7,000 Euros per hectare). If the Commission’s proposal is accepted by the Member States, it is likely to be implemented very slowly over a period of 10 years or more. Most of the tobacco produced in Europe is of very high tar content. It exported to Eastern Europe and the developing world.
2.To respond to consumer demands
Consumers want safe and nutritious food at reasonable prices. Food safety has become a top priority with Commissioners David Byrne for Health and Consumer Protection and Franz Fischler for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries in regular dialogue on food production. Consumer prices may need greater attention. A letter to Commissioner Fischler developed by Friends of the Earth Europe and signed by environmental, health, consumer and other groups, including EPHA, addresses the issue of who benefits from CAP subsidies.
Since the early 1990s, agricultural prices have been falling. They are now often lower than production costs. Consumer prices often do not reflect this trend. For example, the price of wheat has decreased by 50% since 1992 yet the price of bread continues to rise. Who is benefiting? According to Friends of the Earth Europe, "As a consequence of decreasing farm-gate prices, farmers’ incomes have been increasing based on public support. That means that the European taxpayers, through direct payments, are indirectly financing agro-industry and hypermarkets, who can buy cheap agricultural goods." (3)
3.To improve environmental sustainability of agriculture and the quality of agricultural products
The CAP has resulted in intensive, chemically-dependent farming because subsidies have been targeted at mass production regardless of quality. The result is a serious and costly accumulation of chemicals in the soil and a supply of food often containing high levels of pesticide residues.
The mid-term review proposes gradual reductions in the subsidies to large farms and more support for environment-friendly farming. "Cross compliance", i.e. support payments related to environmental, animal welfare and food quality standards. This should help reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture. (4) Although no specific targets have been set for reductions in pesticide use in farming, EPHA welcomes the fact that organic farming is likely to benefit from recommended changes.
Small farmers want a voice
Many small farmers in Eastern Europe fear that the Common Agricultural Policy will lead to an intensification of agriculture as it has in Western Europe. Géza Varga in Galgafarm, Hungary was running a 200 cow organic dairy herd during the era of farming collectives. Then he founded a people’s university with a group of ecologists, and set up the Galgafarm co-operative, which processes and sells his organic produce on the domestic market as well as for export to the EU. "While the CAP presently has no effect at all upon Galgafarm," he says, "we believe that it is important to stimulate the debate among the rural populations of Europe with regard to their vision of the future for the rural world." A fellow farmer agrees: "We need an eco-social market economy!" he says.
Source: Rural messages, AgriCultural Convention, http://tellus.de/bruessel/english/index.html
Specific measures are needed to encourage local and regional marketing of agricultural and food products. Food safety and quality have been undermined by the closure of local processing facilities, local slaughterhouses, and local markets. Local marketing of food produce is recommended in the WHO Urban and Peri-urban Food and Nutrition Action Plan. The effect would also be to reduce "food miles" saving energy use and preventing additional air pollution.
4.To reduce food poverty and increase rural employment, both within and outside the EU
Agriculture plays a vital role in poverty alleviation and the health and welfare of the majority of the population in developing countries. Under the proposals, guaranteed cereal prices would be cut by five percent, the EU would no longer intervene with purchases of rye, and the intervention price for rice would be reduced by 50%. However, the focus on competitiveness and exports remains and may continue to result in subsidised surpluses being dumped in developing countries. The effect is to destablise markets in poor countries and deprive local farmers of opportunities to sell their own products.
5.To enrich the diversity of food culture and wildlife
Current production patterns are based on a narrow and shrinking variety of agricultural products. Reform proposals may go some way to encouraging more sustainable production and processing of fruit, vegetables, legumes, starchy staples, cereals and fish that may increase choice, widen nutrient intake, and help to halt the erosion of food cultures throughout the EU.
Slow food
Slow Food (as opposed to Fast Food) is an international movement which came into being in Paris in 1989. It now boasts 65,000 members in 45 countries, organized into 560 local convivia. In Italy, there are about 35,000 members and 340 convivia (in Italy known as condotte). The condotte in Italy and the convivia worldwide are the linchpins of the Slow Food movement and interpret and represent its philosophy at local level. The head of the condotta or convivium is the fiduciary or convivium leader, who, through the members and the central office, organizes food and wine events and initiatives, creates moments of conviviality, raises the profile of products and promotes local artisans and wine cellars. He also organises tasting courses and "Taste Workshops" and announces new food and wine developments and knowledge of the products and cuisine of other areas. In short, he educates in matters of taste!
Source: Slow Food website at http://www.slowfood.com/cgi-bin/SlowFood.dll/slowfood_com/scripts/default.jsp
Alliance building with EAC and FoEE
EPHA is working both with the European Agricultural Convention (EAC) and a group on non-governmental organisations to lobby for changes in the Common Agricultural Policy. Andrew Hayes, EPHA’s President, has written an open letter to EAC and succeeded in having amendments made to the EAC document. (www.agriculturalconvention.org). The purpose of the Agricultural Convention, set up by a number of foundations and the Green Group of the European Parliament, is to provide the Convention on the Future of Europe with policy recommendations on the future of CAP and rural policy.
Laura Fernandez, EPHA Policy Assistant, helped draft an open letter to European Commissioner Fischler on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The joint draft letter included questions on animal welfare, environmental standards, tobacco subsidies and the nutritional content of food.
References:
1. Statement on Food, Health, Environment, Social Justice, Sustainable Development and the Common Agricultural Policy, 1999, available on the EPHA website: www.epha.org
2. Health for All in the 21st Century, policy documents, www.who.int/archives/hfa/policy.htm
3. For a copy of the letter, contact Laura Fernandez on laura@epha.org
4. For more information about mid-term review, visit DG Agriculture website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/index_en.htm or ask for brief report available from laura@epha.org
