The Common Agricultural Policy16 March 2012
The rules and funding for farming in the European Union are changing.
Factory farming in Europe is causing the destruction of the environment and rural communities at home and abroad. This spring there is an incredible opportunity to stop this.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a set of rules that cover farming, environmental measures and how Europe trades with other countries is being overhauled.
About 4 billion pounds of taxpayer's money is spent on UK agriculture through the CAP. We need to shift funding to reduce our dependence on rainforest-destroying soy and boost planet-friendly farming.
This reform has the potential to:
- Support farmers who grow alternatives to soy
- Shift money from factory farms to small farms
- Target taxpayer money to planet-friendly farming
Take action
Your Member of the European Parliment (MEP) and the UK Minister for agriculture will be taking part in crucial decisions on the CAP reform this spring.
They will have a big say in this. Please tell them to push for planet-friendly farming.
Lobby DEFRA minister Caroline Spelman
Our one year on report highlights how DEFRA have failed to make sustainable CAP reforms a priority.
Sign this petition and take it to local events and collect signatures
Please keep an eye out for our upcoming action guide.
Further reading
A short guide to the Common Agricultural Policy
What is the CAP? What would we like to see from the reforms? And how will the reforms take place?
How the CAP is causing deforestation in South America
Friends of the Earth Europe's report on the link between policies in Europe and forest destruction in South America.
Public money for public goods?
Friends of the Earth Europe's brief on the Common Agricultural Policy.
A guide to lobbying your MEP
An extended guide on lobbying your MEP
Discuss "The Common Agricultural Policy" in our forum