Moving towards a more sustainable farming future
(posted 27-4-01)

The French, one of the great beneficiaries of the Euro 40 billion a year common agricultural policy, have joined the Germans in arguing for changes to farming methods and practices.

Jean Glavany, French agriculture minister, has called for the emphasis within CAP to be shifted from maximising output to improvements in the quality of food.

"The policy of producing as much as possible is outdated," he told a meeting of EU farm ministers. "We need a new contract between farmers and society to produce food of better quality."

The English have provided the reason - BSE and foot and mouth. Maybe the French and Germans can drive the necessary change.