Ammonia emissions cut proposals will European farm sector worst
It described the European Commission proposals as a severe blow to a sector already being hit by high input costs.
Copa-Cogeca secretary-general Pekka Pesonen said he was glad the Commission has revised slightly its previous unrealistic targets, but the proposals will still hit the livestock sector hard.
“This comes at a time when EU farm incomes are already down 1.3% this year and farmers need to meet many challenges,” he said.
Copa-Cogeca said the Commission should recognise the reductions and investment already undertaken by the agricultural sector.
For example, in Germany, ammonia emissions have fallen 20% from 1990-2011, 30% in Denmark, 44% in Belgium, 67% in the Netherlands, by 58% in Estonia, and 22% from the UK perspective.
Mr Pesonen said these investments are a good step forward and at a high cost to the farm sector.
Measures aiming to reduce green house gas emissions and air pollutant emissions from agriculture could result in a drop in EU production.
This would threaten food security at a time when world food demand is set to rise 60% by 2050.
He said many of the proposals would imply huge investments that can not be supported by small- to medium-sized farms and would accelerate structural change in the farming sector.
Copa-Cogeca said it is urging EU ministers and MEPs to revisit the proposals to ensure there is a viable farm sector in the future.
