Agriculture
Agriculture is of crucial importance to the South West, which is the most rural region in England.
80% of the land is in agricultural use and 3.3% of the working population is employed in agriculture. Agriculture not only produces food, it also fulfils other functions such as the protection of nature, the environment and the landscape – all of which are also vital to the South West
Common Agricultural Policy
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was set up in 1962 to ensure sufficient levels of food production after the Second World War. The importance of the Common Agricultural Policy is clear - it accounts for nearly 50% of the EU’s budget. The original policy was successful in ensuring food supply, but its success came at the expense of more sustainable forms of agriculture and this has led to reforms.
The Agenda 2000 reform agreed a mid-term review of the CAP. A number of factors, both external (World Trade Organisation, Enlargement) and internal (food quality, food safety, animal welfare) have led to bolder than expected proposals for the Mid-term review (MTR).
Agriculture & Food – What does the future hold for Agriculture and Food in the EU?
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/foodqual/index_en.htm
All the latest news about Agricultural policy in the EU.
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/index_en.htm
The personal homepage of the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/fischer-boel/index_en.htm
A detailed explanation of the Common Agricultural Policy, including the history, costs, and future direction of the CAP.
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/publi/capexplained/cap_en.pdf
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