Agriculture & Land Management

Our Work

We are one of Europe's leading centres of excellence in the greening of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Through our work on agriculture we inform and influence the development of policies with implications for the sustainable use of land, focusing on ways in which farming and forestry can help to protect Europe's biodiversity and natural resources as well as contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Encouraging the integration of environmental concerns within agricultural policy has been a core focus of IEEP's work on agriculture since the 1980s.

Over many thousands of years farming practices have transformed the character of the countryside, with resulting impacts, both positive and negative, on the environment. Agricultural activity currently accounts for about 41% of land use in the 27 EU Member States, with forestry accounting for another 37%. As such, agricultural policy is a major driver of land use and management decisions and plays an important role in determining the environmental condition of the farmed landscape.

Through our work we inform and influence the development of policies with implications for the sustainable use of land, focusing on ways in which farming and forestry can help to protect Europe’s biodiversity and natural resources as well as contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Encouraging the integration of environmental concerns within agricultural policy has been a core focus of IEEP’s work on agriculture since the 1980s.

We have been instrumental in supporting the development of rural development policy as a core element of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), making the case for: a strategic approach to determining the focus of support for the environment in rural areas; the availability of environmentally focused measures such as the agri-environment measure; appropriate design, targeting and implementation of measures; adequate funding; and the introduction of a suitable framework for monitoring and evaluation.

We also focus on how direct income support payments to farmers under Pillar 1 of the CAP can be made more environmentally sustainable, through the use of policy measures such as cross compliance.

IEEP’s work on Agriculture & Land Management concentrates on three core activities:

  • Policy research, evaluation and analysis
  • Policy advice
  • Capacity building and training

Through our CAP2020 web-site we promote informed and independent analysis and commentary on the CAP and aim to engender an active debate and exchange of information on CAP reform.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Agriculture & Land Management

  • Press release - Shifting away from conventional biofuels

    15 May – A new report produced by IEEP for ActionAid suggests that a sustainable advanced biofuel sector in the UK could not only lead to thousands of new jobs but also help to deliver better greenhouse gas (GHG) savings and improve the overall environmental and social performance of the biofuel sector.

  • Shifting away from conventional biofuels

    The UK has ample potential to use wastes and residues for advanced biofuels and create jobs in this emerging industry – but safeguards are key to ensure this is done in an environmentally sustainable way.

  • Land as an Environmental Resource

    How can we meet the different and often conflicting demands we make on our limited supply of rural land in Europe? A more strategic approach to the way in which land is used is needed than has been the case in the past. This report for DG Environment looks at the data, the challenges and the policy options for Europe.

  • A greener CAP: still within reach?

    The greening of the CAP hangs in the balance in the final negotiations; a synthesis of key issues and requirements.

  • How to climate-proof CAP and Cohesion spending

    The Commission has published two key technical guidance documents on climate proofing of Cohesion Policy and CAP expenditure as part of the Adaptation Strategy Package. Guidance builds on work carried out by a consortium led by IEEP.

  • Welcome move on ILUC by the European Parliament’s rapporteur

    IEEP welcomes the progressive draft report by French MEP Corinne Lepage on the European Commission’s proposal on indirect land use change (ILUC).

  • Greening the CAP - how ‘equivalent’ are alternative approaches?

    A contentious issue in the negotiations on the future of the CAP is how to implement the proposed new green direct payments to farmers. However, proposals to increase flexibility for Member States will not necessarily be administratively any simpler and may risk weakening environmental outcomes.

  • The sustainability of advanced biofuels in the EU

    Using wastes and residues for biofuels has many advantages. But ensuring sustainability and including safeguards in EU legislation are critical issues.

  • Alternative means of reducing CO2 emissions from UK road transport

    Up to 2020 greater use of renewable electricity is the leading alternative to biofuels to reduce the carbon intensity of car and rail transport fuels. To realise this potential requires a mix of responses, including: increasing the decarbonisation of existing transport fuels; improving the energy efficiency of vehicles; and changing the way vehicles are used.

  • Biodiversity proofing of the EU budget

    This study shows how more can be done to firstly avoid and minimize detrimental impacts of EU funding on biodiversity, and secondly to increase biodiversity benefits.

  • Land use mapping for sustainable biofuels

    IEEP and WWF join forces to define criteria and principles to guide the mapping of appropriate land use to ensure sustainable biofuel crops.

  • Press release - Mixed news for the EU’s environment from the MFF deal

    8 February - 'There is mixed news for the EU’s environment and the green economy from today’s MFF deal’ says David Baldock, Director of IEEP.

  • Principles of Double Funding

    This briefing explores the issue of double funding in relation to the CAP reform debate and considers the implications for delivering added value for the environment.

  • EP vote must not undermine a greener CAP

    A decade’s progress in improving the Common Agricultural Policy’s environmental credentials risks being lost if the EP vote to water down the Commission’s ambitious proposals to green the CAP.

  • Land Stewardship in England post 2013: CAP greening and agri-environment

    What will the introduction of environmental measures in Pillar 1 mean for agri-environment schemes in the future? A topic of much debate as part of the CAP reform negotiations, this new report explores the potential impacts of greening Pillar 1 on England’s entry-level agri-environment scheme and how a future scheme could be designed to deliver more for the environment and ensure the long term sustainability of farming.

  • Addressing ILUC? The European Commission’s proposal on indirect land use change

    The European Commission’s proposal on indirect land use change – what’s in it for mitigating emissions? Read IEEP’s latest Biofuel ExChange briefing.

  • Greener or greyer: what's next for the future EU budget?

    This Policy Brief analyses the outcomes of the Special Summit on the future EU budget, which took place on 22-23 November 2012.

  • The role of bioenergy in Europe's energy future

    IEEP’s review questions the potential contribution of increased use of biomass for heat and electricity generation to reduce emissions.

  • Bioenergy and climate change: hard questions to answer

    We have a policy framework which will drive greater use of bioenergy to 2020 but with no associated guarantee of reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, concludes IEEP report.

  • Nature and its role in the transition to a Green Economy

    This new IEEP-authored report highlighting the importance of nature to the economy aims to clarify and help mainstream nature’s role in the transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.

Related

Highlights