Today, the majority of EU agricultural support still goes to direct income support – regardless of how or what is produced. In practice, these tax euros support intensive production, which burdens the climate, environment, animal welfare, drinking water and nature – and which, through high consumption of antibiotics in livestock farms, contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance. That money could be spent much more wisely.

It is not about taking support away from farmers. They are on the front lines of both the climate and biodiversity crises and depend on stable frameworks. For some, EU support schemes can be the difference between whether the accounts are consistent or not. The task for European agriculture ministers is to give them that security, but in a way where farmers, unlike today, are rewarded for the solutions that society needs.

When a farmer secures habitats and food for insects, birds, amphibians and other life on the cultivated land, takes land back to nature, avoids the use of pesticides and provides better conditions for animals, this not only benefits production – it also constitutes a significant good for society as a whole. This also applies when the farmer grows food for humans rather than animal feed and reduces the negative impacts on animal welfare and the environmental and climate impacts associated with animal production.

The problem is that today it is rarely worthwhile for the farmer to participate in the necessary transition – and there is much evidence that it is only going in the wrong direction.

Our recommendation is clear: Direct income support must be gradually phased out over the coming CAP periods and replaced by payment for documented green and animal-friendly results that benefit society.

The majority of the hectare support in Denmark goes to the largest farms – approx. 5-6000 farmers. We therefore also propose to provide the possibility for small farms to be taken into account through a so-called multiplication factor, so that they receive a higher support rate. This will create more life in the countryside with new farmers who invest in plant production for people and provide better conditions for animals.

New, more sustainable food value chains – including plant-based products – must have the same political support that animal production has had for decades. And if direct support continues to be linked to livestock or livestock products, demands for significantly better conditions for animals must be made in the future.

If the ministers want, the EU's agricultural support can become a driver for green transition and an investment in more robust food production. If they do not act, we risk that yet another billion-dollar support scheme will end up undermining the goals that the EU itself has set for climate, nature and animal welfare. Denmark has a unique opportunity with its EU presidency to show the way. That chance should not be wasted.

This opinion piece was published in Avisen Danmark on September 10, 2025 and was written by: Britta Riis, director, Animal Protection. Hanne Lyng Winter, EU policy manager, Danish Vegetarian Association. Trine Langhede, advisor, Bioresources and Food, Green Transition Denmark. Egon Østergaard, chairman, Danish Ornithological Association. Michael Kjerkegaard, chairman, Organic National Association. Christian Fromberg, campaign manager for agriculture, forests and nature, Greenpeace. Mette Gervin Damsgaard, political head, World Animal Protection Denmark. Lars Midtiby, director, Danish Nature Conservation Association. Frederik Madsen, acting secretary, Plantebranchen. Torben Strømgaard Hansen, chairman, Danish Beekeepers Association.