More taxpayers’ money for the environment and public benefit

Intensive agriculture. Image: Sebastian Tilch - Common Agricultural Policy reform: More than 3,600 researchers call for science to be taken into consideration Life Scientists from across Europe call for swift and effective action from the EU with regard to its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In a position paper written by 21 authors and coordinated by scientists from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the University of Rostock, the EU Commission's current reform proposals were identified as inadequate. Billions of euros of taxpayers' money are about to be poured down the drain - making it unlikely to reach the set climate and nature conservation targets or the envisaged social objectives. The researchers are proposing ten measures for a sustainable and fair agricultural policy. Over 3,600 signatories support the call for action. According to the World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), intensive agriculture is the number one cause of biodiversity loss and associated ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being.