When Denmark takes over the EU presidency in 2025, it will coincide with the start of negotiations on the EU's agricultural policy after 2027. In this context, the government is encouraged to use the presidency actively to promote a green transition of agriculture at the European level.

The Danish Organic Association, the Danish Nature Conservation Association, the Green Transition Denmark, the Danish Vegetarian Association, the Plant Industry, the Danish Animal Protection Association, World Animal Protection, the Danish Beekeepers Association and the Danish Ornithological Association have jointly submitted a set of recommendations for how future agricultural support should be structured.

The recommendations are based on a vision of an agricultural policy that supports a sustainable and holistic agro-ecological food system - with respect for planetary boundaries and with a focus on responsible production and consumption from farm to fork.

A central element of the recommendations is a gradual phasing out of direct income support, which currently makes up the bulk of the EU's agricultural budget. Instead, it is proposed that support be targeted at social goods such as climate action, clean drinking water, a healthy aquatic environment, more nature and biodiversity, and improved animal welfare. Specifically, it is proposed that direct income support should account for a maximum of 2034% of the total support budget by 50.

Michael Kjerkegaard, the head of the Danish Organic Association, is pleased that there is agreement to change agricultural support so that instead of being a flat income support, it will be used to finance common goods related to agricultural operations and management of open land:

"Agricultural support plays an important role in what our agriculture looks like. If agriculture is to respond to the major challenges we face as a society, where agriculture plays a role, and we are to utilize everything that organic farming can contribute, then support must be structured in a new way," says Michael Kjerkegaard.

The Danish Nature Conservation Association also sees great potential in using the EU presidency to change the course of European agricultural policy:

"With the Agreement on a Green Denmark, we have taken a position on which areas should be taken out of operation for the benefit of nature, the environment and the climate. But if we also change agricultural support, we can support a real transition to a much greater extent that future-proofs Danish agricultural production," says Maria Reumert Gjerding, president of the Danish Nature Conservation Association.

The organisations agree that animal welfare should be included as an independent objective for EU agricultural support. Britta Riis, director of Dyrenes Beskyttelse, says:

"Denmark is one of the countries in the world with the largest number of animals in production. This gives us a special role and a special responsibility. Over the past year, we have seen examples of a definite welfare crisis in the industrial production of animals, and it is Denmark's task as the presidency country to set an ambitious and far more sustainable direction for the EU's agricultural support, which separately rewards farmers for high animal welfare, climate and nature."

A sustainable food system within the limits of the planet will require a higher priority for food for people than feed for animals. Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl, Secretary General of the Danish Vegetarian Association says:

“EU agricultural policy should promote healthy and sustainable food systems, and therefore support should be designed in a way that makes plant-based production a good business.”

Bjarke Møller, Director of the Green Transition Denmark, says:

“EU agricultural support should be restructured so that there are more financial carrots for farmers moving away from conventional animal production and towards more plant-based foods, organics and regenerative farming methods. The farmers of the future must produce healthy food within planetary boundaries, and EU support schemes should favour those that do something effective for the climate, environment and biodiversity.”

In addition, the recommendations include proposals for:

• That alternative food value chains, including plant-based products, are supported with the same strength and predictability that animal production has so far received
• That coupled support for livestock farming and the marketing of meat and dairy products should only be maintained if good animal welfare requirements are also imposed
• That there continues to be the possibility of targeting support for permanent extensification schemes that promote nature and biodiversity.

Agricultural subsidies are one of the strongest political drivers of the European food system. Now is the time to rethink it – and we expect Denmark to use its EU presidency to show green leadership.

Read “The input to the legal framework and principles for CAP 2028” here..