Introduction to conservation agriculture policy (CAP)
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) entails a better management of our soils and the biological factors that we manage on our farms as well as a correct and efficient use of water. Highlighting the planting of cover crops or vegetable covers, with which we make a natural defense of our soil either by contributing to the fight against erosion or to the improvement of physical-chemical factors in our soils.
What is the CAP?
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) encompasses a relationship between the agricultural sector and society. The CAP is present in all the member countries of the European Union and its main pillars are:
– Aid to the agricultural sector and to the people who make up this sector.
– Maintain and conserve countries and nature across the EU
– Safeguard rural areas and the inhabitants of these areas. As well as fixing the population in rural areas to combat rural depopulation.
– Encourage and help the fight against climactic change.
– Consolidate women in agriculture and ensure the future of the sector through generational change.
Impact on organic farming
The new CAP that is being formed and that will enter into force in January of next year 2023 will have an impact on the regulations of agriculture and specifically in relation to organic farming.
This new CAP will be based on the importance of ecological practices, these practices are oriented to the fight against climate change and new practices for the defense and protection of our soils.
One of the challenges of this new CAP is that farmers and ranchers can challenge climate change with the premise of protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity but without disturbing the profitability of their farms.
Aid for the implementation of THE CAP
The CAP is financed with European funds, these funds are part of the annual budget of the EU. The CAP has two large blocks of direct aid through two funds:
– European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) aimed at providing direct aid and financing market measures.
– European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for the financing of rural development.
Impact on cover crops
This new way of understanding agriculture in a more ecological way and with a better interaction of all the biological factors we have, will make cover crops have an increase in their use at European level.
The protection of our soils, the fight against erosion, the improvement of beneficial bacterial life in our soils, the reserve of water in the soil avoiding evaporation, the action of “aging” in a natural way that the roots perform and many more factors are some of the actions that will make the cover crops have a presence and a prominence in the new CAP and in our new way of understanding agriculture.
From ESSEEDS we offer different alternatives for organic planting such as Crescent Sunn or Orium that can be used as cover crops. If you need more information you can contact us.
