Modern farming
Netting a better seal deal, balancing animal welfare with fishing rights
Est. 7minAnimal welfare groups are hoping EU legislation protecting seals is kept above board, while Baltic fishermen are trying to salvage political nets in their fight to ensure adequate fish hauls.
No food, grotesque transportation, barbaric slaughter – EU animal welfare must be better
Est. 6minCalves are spending long hours on transporters with no access to food, cattle are taking long sea journeys in grotesque conditions to be slaughtered in barbaric facilities - animal welfare groups are demanding better from the EU.
Fix biosolutions legislative landscape or lose talent and scale-ups, says strategist
Est. 6minInvestors champion biotechnology with AI as the engine of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but despite Europe’s strong ambitions biotech analysts say legislation designed for chemicals is not fit for the biological. The result is an exodus of talent and investment.
Improve pig welfare standards, demand animal rights advocates
Est. 5minPig producers across the EU should deliver higher welfare standards than the EU Pig Directive currently requires, say activists who are now calling for better practices and additional measures to ensure pig welfare.
Smallholder farmers struggling with new forestry requirements
Est. 8minFarmers with small plots of land are struggling with new requirements as part of the EU Deforestation Regulation, lacking resources and technical know-how, and leaving them open to exploitation by larger suppliers.
Next generation farming powered with AI product innovation
Est. 5minEurope’s agri sector is under pressure. Farmers are taking heat for the climate crisis, trying to keep their heads above flood water, deal with extreme weather events, and keep pace with changes in consumer demand. AI may help.
Dolly’s revenge, European Commission proposes to drop wolves’ protection status
Est. 6minThe European Commission’s proposal to drop wolves’ protection status under the Bern Convention from ‘strictly protected species’ to ‘protected species’ came as a blow to conservation advocates fighting the magnus malus lupus' corner in Europe.
Grinding to a halt, Europe’s fertiliser sector facing ruin by Russia
Est. 6minEurope’s Herculean efforts to reduce energy reliance on Russia have not been matched when it comes to fertiliser. The European Council’s hesitation to add fertilisers to Russian sanctions is putting Europe’s fertiliser industry at risk of catastrophe.
Austria to use space tech for farming subsidies allocation
Est. 5minAustria has decided to mobilise satellite technology to check in detail whether farms are meeting the conditions for receiving billions in EU agriculture subsidies, a task which is often very complex and costly for national authorities.
Commission stands by gene editing survey slammed by NGOs
Est. 4minA coalition of NGOs has joined forces to lambast the European Commission’s consultation process on its upcoming policy initiative on gene editing technologies - but the EU executive insists that a broad range of voices have already been heard on the contentious issue.
Albanian beekeepers cautious over draft law to align with EU acquis
Est. 5minAlbania’s beekeeping sector will be regulated as the government has proposed the final draft of a new law that would impact those with just one hive, in an effort to align with the EU acquis. But not all beekeepers are buzzing over the news.
Industrial emissions proposal criticised by farming sector
Est. 6minLawmakers and stakeholders close to the agriculture community accused the EU executive of being disconnected from reality and creating additional bureaucracy after presenting new rules to curb pollution in the industrial sector.
Member states put pedal to the metal on Commission’s carbon farming plans
Est. 4minMember states are keen to step up talks on carbon sequestration in farming under the French EU presidency, given the Commission's legislative proposal expected by the end of the year.
Expert: Carbon farming ideal to boost Poland’s yields
Est. 5minCarbon farming practices could help Polish farmers cope with permanent drought as they could increase the productivity of their yields, an expert has told EURACTIV Poland.
French farmers endorse carbon farming but highlight transition costs
Est. 5minWith its low carbon strategy, the French government aims to green agriculture through the development of carbon sequestration in soils. French farmers salute the strategy but call for stronger aids for the transition to be financially sustainable.
Berlin says carbon farming ‘high priority’ as farmers call for further action
Est. 6minWhile carbon farming is a priority for the German government, farmers say they are not doing enough to support measures financially. Environmentalists add that some of the promoted practices have limited climate value.
First gene edited ‘cancer-cutting’ wheat trials get the go ahead in UK
Est. 4minThe UK government has granted permission for a series of field trials of gene edited wheat for the first time in Europe, marking a move away from the EU’s stance on the matter.
EU countries back cage-free farming initiative with some caveats
Est. 5minRepresentatives of member states have endorsed the European Commission's ambition to phase out cage rearing in the EU, but showed far less enthusiasm than the European Parliament and expressed concerns about the timeline of the initiative and the appropriate financial support for farmers.
Data-driven actions as the key to deliver sustainability in the EU dairy sector?
The current EU agri-food model is going through radical change. The need to feed a growing population sustainably and protect biodiversity is putting demands on the industry like never before.
Restoring pride top priority for Generation Z farmers
Est. 6minGeneration Z - those born between 1997 and 2015 - is faced with the future farming paradox: it is an exciting time to be a farmer with many opportunities opened up by innovation, but a farmer's life has never been so complicated.
Agricultural education too ‘stale’ for tomorrow’s farmers, says expert
Est. 4minAgricultural education is “stale” and in need of a shake-up to help tomorrow's farmers meet the challenges ahead, according to a leading veterinary consultant and educator, Tommy Heffernan, who said the sector is facing a decade of "massive change".
‘Conservationist’ farmers confirm support for glyphosate renewal
Est. 4minProponents of glyphosate renewal count on farmers putting in place agronomic practices following Conservative Agriculture (CA) principles in their bid to get the EU green light for the controversial weed killer.
EU farmers at odds with agriculture Commissioner after controversial tweets
Est. 4minEU farmers have told EURACTIV they have been left feeling unrepresented by the EU Agricultural Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski after he posted a series of controversial tweets criticising industrial farming.
Report: majority of consumers want compulsory labelling on all genetically modified food
Est. 6minA majority of European consumers want to see compulsory labelling on food products containing genetically modified crops, according to a recent Ipsos report, but industry players insist that this is impossible to implement.