EU agriculture budget dilution ‘would impact on food production’

ANY dilution in the European Union agricultural budget would impact on food production.

Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness, who made the claim at a Lisavaird Co-op seminar in Clonakilty, Co Cork, said the socio-economic importance of the industry is often not fully appreciated.

“Farm produced commodities fuel the food industry, provide jobs and feed EU consumers, in addition to providing unpaid for public goods in terms of the environment and animal welfare,” she said

Ms McGuinness said in the discussions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the Irish Government must not simply accept that the odds are stacked against agriculture.

It must fight to ensure that European partners understand the consequences for Ireland and for the European model of farming of cutting spending on the agriculture budget.

“There is no question but that the share of the overall EU budget devoted to agriculture is under threat in the current debate,” she said.

The MEP said initial discussions are focussing almost exclusively on public goods and environmental issues to the detriment of production lead agriculture.

She warned that some of the ideas being discussed include the effective re-nationalisation of the CAP through national co-financing.

“What Ireland needs to do is ensure that the debate is about what is best for EU agriculture and food security.

“We need to demonstrate that without public support, farming and food production in the EU will be replaced by third country imports where production standards are lower,” she said. Ms McGuinness said the historic basis on which the Single Farm Payment is calculated is under scrutiny.

“These payments underpin quality food production in the EU, while providing some basic level of income support for producers.

“There is a real danger that the reasonable voice of farmers and producers of quality food could be lost in the emerging discussions,” she said.