The stringent climate policy goals: "Too few resources and too many burdens."

Agriculture can play a significant role in mitigating the effects of climate change, but it needs more resources and support, say experts and representatives of food producers. The climate policy goals currently being set for farmers remain widely criticized in various EU countries as contributing to rising costs and a decline in competitiveness. As part of the ongoing process of simplifying the law, the European Commission is proposing to alleviate some of the burdens and shift towards more flexible implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy, but this does not mean abandoning ambitious goals.

"Agriculture can be a powerful opportunity to stop climate change. This is clearly seen in how agriculture can be a source of renewable energy and absorb carbon dioxide. This is already visible both in crops and in the overall strategy for carbon dioxide absorption through appropriate crops, as well as in the strategy for biogas plants, which help close the energy cycle and reduce carbon dioxide emissions," emphasized Andrzej Gantner, vice president of the Polish Federation of Food Producers, in an interview with the Newseria agency.

The Green Deal's assumptions and the goals set for the agri-food industry are being challenged by farmers in many EU countries and have sparked a series of protests over the past two years, not only on the streets of European capitals but also in Brussels. Farmers point out that climate policy has little to do with their actual capabilities and needs. They primarily protested the requirements for limiting plant protection products and restoring natural areas. At the same time, they emphasize their readiness to support society in the fight against climate change.

"At the same time, the mechanisms for entering eco-schemes, regenerative agriculture, or renewable energy must be supported by ensuring adequate funding for investment. Without this, it will be very difficult to claim any significant breakthrough," assesses Andrzej Gantner. "We can't just impose stringent requirements on reducing [plant protection products - ed.], carbon dioxide emissions, or production. We need to consider how to support farmers in becoming more resilient to climate change, while also supporting all those innovations that significantly reduce the environmental impact of food production. On the other hand, it's important to remember that something called food security trumps all of this."

In his opinion, the climate goals set for farmers should take into account not only the issues of ensuring stable food supplies on the continent, but also the specificities of individual countries.

"Any climate goals should also be tailored to the specific needs of the individual countries. Agriculture in Spain is different from agriculture in Poland, and yet another in Italy. The solutions proposed must be tailored to the type of agriculture and the social and geographic structure of each country," the expert said.

"Climate policy is a complex issue because, on the one hand, it obviously reduces the profitability of farms. Its requirements are quite stringent when it comes to our farms, which are largely still in the early stages of development. The requirements introduced by the European Green Deal significantly limit the dynamics of income growth," says Prof. Bazyli Czyżewski from the Department of Macroeconomics and Food Economy at the Poznań University of Economics. "However, let's remember that there's also a consumer perspective. In the long run, these changes are beneficial for consumers and for society, because sooner or later it will be inevitable to address the issue of agricultural emissions, which, especially in Central and Eastern European countries, are very high compared to the European Union."

The expert points out that climate goals - perhaps in a limited version and in the longer term - will be gradually accepted by agriculture.

"We're talking to the owners of the most efficient farms, and they admit that these solutions are also beneficial in the long run, as they improve soil quality and, sooner or later, translate into increased productivity and better yields. But, of course, in the short term, it's very difficult to incorporate these solutions, which were originally designed, into the Green Deal," says Professor Bazyli Czyżewski.

Representatives of the European Commission's press office emphasize that the deregulation, or rather the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy, currently underway within the EU does not mean abandoning ambitious environmental goals, but rather serves as an impetus for their acceleration and broader public acceptance. CAP funds are largely intended to support the transition of European agriculture towards more sustainability. The CAP strategic plans assume that nearly €98 billion (32% of CAP funding) will be allocated to implementing solutions that benefit the climate, water, soil, air, biodiversity, and animal welfare in the current financial framework.

Andrzej Gantner reminds us that the agri-food industry is one of the most "dependent" on the climate and exposed to the effects of its changes.

"First and foremost, they rely on significant instability in weather conditions, and especially in water," admits the vice president of the Polish Food and Agriculture Federation (PFPŻ). "Water is becoming an increasingly serious problem. Access to it, prolonged periods of drought, and also very heavy rainfall that destroys crops are causing water policy to be reflected in European strategic concepts, such as the Blue Deal."

The European Commission's Blue Deal aims to make the entire EU economy, including agriculture and processing, more resilient to water shortages. The expert emphasizes, however, that funds must be allocated between environmental policies and the Common Agricultural Policy. This will enable agricultural production systems to accumulate water, facilitate retention, and transform soil structure to retain water.

"Without this, it's hard to even imagine that we'll be able to manage agricultural production and food security within the next two or three decades. This is a huge challenge—much greater than just temperatures or the number of sunny days," explains Andrzej Gantner.

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