Over 140 organisations from all over Europe – representing consumers and the food sector, and those working to promote environmental protection, health, and animal welfare – have joined a call for reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The organisations have responded to an appeal by ‘Living Land’ – a broad campaign which recognises that the EU’s agriculture policy is devastating to both our climate and our environment, wiping out wildlife, harming public health, and is failing small and medium sized farmers as well as rural communities.

Trees Robijns, Senior EU Agriculture and Bioenergy Policy Officer, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia said:

“With the ongoing online Public Consultation on the future of the CAP, there is a golden, indeed once in a lifetime, opportunity to tell the European Commission that the EU’s food and farming system is broken and needs fixing. Join Living Land and make your voice heard in the debate on the future of agriculture!”

Faustine Bas-Defossez, Policy Manager for Agriculture and Bioenergy, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), said:

“When farming works in harmony with the environment and not against it, we protect the very natural resources we need to produce safe food today and tomorrow. But those who pretend to defend the farming community’s interests have time and time again fought for a policy that leads to the destruction of these resources. Given that how we produce and consume food affects us all, it is high time we have an inclusive debate on the CAP’s future that is not dominated by the vested interests of the agri-establishment.”

Andreas Baumueller, Head, Natural Resources, WWF European Policy Office said:

“Industrial farming is depleting natural resources in Europe and globally. The current system is affecting nature, small and medium farmers, people’s health and the quality of our food. We call on a large number of organisations, businesses and citizens to engage and tell the EU commission that we need a radical change, a real reform of agriculture.”

Notes to editors:

> The Living Land campaign was started by BirdLife Europe & Central Asia, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and WWF EU. The organisations that have joined Living Land agree that the EU’s new agricultural policy must be Fair – for farmers and rural communities.

• Environmentally Sustainable – for clean air and water, healthy soil, and thriving   plant and animal life.
• Healthy – for good food and the well-being of all people.
• Globally Responsible – for the planet’s climate and sustainable development around the world.

> Organisations and individuals can join the Living Land campaign from its website https://www.living-land.org/join-us