30 Amendments of Maria HEUBUCH related to 2017/2009(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
–1. Whereas the EU and its Member States are all signatories to the Paris agreement. As such, they are committed to limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the 2030 Agenda and its sustainability goals; stresses that, although the there is an urgent need for their better implementation and reform of policies affecting EU farming iandustry is already making a valuable con food, such as the CAP and complementary policies, e.g. trade; Considers that the SDGs most relevant to EU agriculture and food systems are : – SDG 2 (access to safe, nutribution to sustainability, through the Common Agricultural Policy and stringent environmental requirements, it still needs to adapt betterus and sufficient food produced by sustainable and resilient agricultural practices, maintaining genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals; as well as equal access to land, technology and markets, and decent incomes for small-scale food producers and family farmers); – SDG 3 (healthy lives and well- being, in particular protection against environmental diseases); – SDG 5 (gender equality and empowerment), SDG 6 (quality and sustainability of water resources); – SDG 7 (sustainable energy); – SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production patterns); – SDG 13 (combatting climate change and its impacts); – SDG 14 (protection of oceans, seas and marine resources); – SDG 15 (protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combatting desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss), – SDG 17 (global partnership for sustainable development). Considers that EU policies still need to adapt agriculture to the many challenges facing it;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that although it is difficult to consider the EU farming sector in isolation, entwined as it is with global supply chains of inputs, e.g. agricultural commodities that drive deforestation like soya and palm oil, and outputs with global effect such as GHG emissions and toxic pollutants, it is a useful starting point to assess where the EU's impacts can be minimised.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Notes the constant trend of increased loss of biodiversity driven inter alia by habitat loss, climate change, direct and indirect intoxication, use of genetically uniform seeds and animal breeds; Recalls however that a sufficient level of functional biodiversity is needed in order for agro-ecosystems to function normally to cycle nutrients and water, and ensure pollination and optimal fruiting, balanced predator-pest population dynamics that prevent pest booms, as well as buffering against external shocks such as droughts and floods; Recalls further that decreasing biodiversity levels ultimately makes human survival much more difficult ;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls that agro-ecological systems are made up of living elements, that can be harnessed for sustainable and resilient production; notes the detrimental effect of the pesticide and fertiliser industry's business model that locks farmers in to using products that remove functional biodiversity and make the systems more and more input dependent;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Calls for a non-toxic future that achieves sustainable food production by using free ecosystem services and natural processes, ensured by high biodiversity and species abundance in agro- ecosystems that are self-enforcing and self-enriching, so as to achieve autonomous long term fertility and productivity;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Considers that in order to fulfil the EU's climate goals in the agriculture sector, actions with beneficial synergies between biodiversity, environmental, and climate goals should be prioritised. Considers that climate change adaptation and mitigation actions should include: management of hedges, buffer strips and trees on agricultural land; agroforestry and mixed use woodland plantings; prevention of tree removal and deforestation; use of cover/catch crops and crop residues on land; carbon and topsoil auditing; improved nitrogen efficiency and biological N fixation1a in rotations and in grass mixes; restoration and preservation of carbon sinks like wetland, peatland, and damaged agricultural lands. Where mitigation actions have potentially harmful environmental trade-offs, for example decreasing functional biodiversity, these should either be safeguarded against or avoided. __________________ 1a Effective mitigation actions are listed in line with table70 of the report "Effective performance of tools for climate action policy". Biological N fixation is included because of its high mitigation potential as well as other benefits, such as reduction of feed import dependency. Low or no tillage are omitted because of their low potential and high risk of increased use of herbicides and fungicides.
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Calls for binding EU pesticide reduction targets and pesticide risk assessment to be based solely on public, peer-reviewed studies or studies commissioned by competent public authorities and funded by applicants.
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the EU farming industrysector provides jobs for millions of people in rural areas, guarantees food supplies and attracts people to rural areas as a place in which to live, work and relax; points out further that high biodiversity and high nature value landscapes are needed to attract people to the countryside; points out the use of agroforestry and increased protection for permanent pastures to build up biodiversity and to preserve the touristic added value of rural areas. In addition, the great value of Rural Development in building viable, robust and vibrant rural communities and economies is highlighted in this context, against a trend of decreasing financial commitment by the EU and Member States.
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need for better implementation of existing CAP instruments to ensure a decent income for the farming community; in this regard, calls on Member States to make full use of the possibility to cap direct payments above 150.000€; to redistribute 30% of direct payments in favour of small farms; to reallocate 15% of first pillar payments to the second pillar; and calls on the European Commission to make these redistributive instruments mandatory;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for farming to be developed by focusing on small and medium sized family holdings and exploiting the advantages of local and regional value chains, with more emphasis on peri-urban links and direct sales that has been a successful model in many parts of the EU;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Cautions against further export orientation of EU agriculture and asks for funds for export promotion schemes to be reduced. Notes that exports make EU farmers dependent on instable external markets and puts additional pressure on producers' prices; they also have negative effects on food production in developing countries and on the well-being of live animals transported for long hours without adequate welfare conditions;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls for effective implementation of SDG 2.5 on genetic resources, and points out that the most effective way to maintain genetic diversity in agriculture is by using it in situ; notes that adaptation to climate change is dependent upon high genetic variation; notes the increasingly concentrated seed markets and decreased variation per variety; calls on public support for breeding landraces and heterogeneous materials, especially for leguminous crops and certain vegetable and animal species where there is a lack of genetically diverse seeds and materials adapted to the needs of agro-ecological farming; points out further that especially in the global South the fastest and most resource-effective way of breeding seeds to adapt to climate change and make crops more resilient is by allowing farmers to breed their own seeds through participative selection, also maintaining landraces and heterogeneous materials; therefore encourages the role played by farm seed systems and exchanges to empower farmers, and recognises participative breeding as a long tradition of innovation in rural communities;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the significance of sustainable forest management in Europe, which secures jobs, generates added value and makes a crucial contribution to the achievement of biodiversity, climate and environmental protection targets; cautions against policy actions based on the false assumption that biofuels are carbon neutral and calls for realistic and accurate net-net accounting.
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for land degradation neutrality, i.e. zero degradation of soil and land, via effective implementation of the SDG 15.3, to protect the soils we have left and to rehabilitate degraded lands to full health and productivity; Notes that this SDG is key to reach the other goals on food and water security, to end poverty and ensure climate action.
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance for farms of bioenergy based exclusively on waste and residues, which can helps to secure farmers’' incomes, by offering them an additional product to sell,and can create jobs in rural areas; points out the risk of a conflict between food and energy production, though conversion or displacement of productive farmland that would otherwise be used for the production of food; cautions that investment in infrastructure to produce bioenergy demands a return on capital, which develops its own dynamics, namely growing monocultures to feed into bioenergy plants rather than using only waste and creates jobs in rural areas;sidues in order to amortise the investments made; cautions that many biofuel production pathways increase overall greenhouse gas emission when emissions from indirect land use change are taken into account 1a __________________ 1aCommission Renewable Energy Progress report, SWD(2015) 117 final - https://ec.europa.eu//tranparency/regdoc/r ep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-293-EN-F1-1.PDF
Amendment 95 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that legislation should adapt policy-making to meet the objectives of the SDGs, and stop the incentivising practises that have pushed the EU away from meeting the SDGs, such as incentives for food-based biofuels, e.g. palm oil.
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that, by using agricultural waste, the biocircular economy can help to reduce the environmental impact of farming, by aiming the form ofo reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the air, soil and bodies of water, and can also contribute to the more efficient and sustainable use of resources; Stresses that the use of food waste for energy production must not cause a clash between food and fuel, and energy needs should be met rather by using waste and by-products that are not useful in any other process higher up the waste hierarchy;
Amendment 110 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the contribution that the livestock sector makes to the EU economy,climate change, pollution of water and soils especially in regions with a high density of animals, and environmental degradation and disease in third countries where pesticide- intensive feed monocultures are grown for export to Europe and draws attention to its potential to contribute to a better functioning agricultural ecosystem and a climate- friendly farming industry, notably by ensuring local sourcing of feed; notes the need for instruments to limit supply to primarily EU demands, especially where this oversupply destroys the market as in the dairy sector;
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes also the resource waste involved in feeding grain to animals and the trophic losses and inevitable energy inefficiencies involved in rearing animals for food; notes in this context the relative resource-efficiency of reducing meat consumption from current historically high levels and replacing meat with more pulses, whole grains, seeds for more optimal human nutrition with less environmental impact.
Amendment 121 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Notes that by maintaining genuinely permanent grassland, pasture- based livestock farming can play its role in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss;
Amendment 122 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Notes that growing leguminous crops in arable rotation can provide a win-win-win situation for farmers, animals, biodiversity and climate needs; and calls on the EU Commission to come forward with a protein plan that includes leguminous crops in rotation;
Amendment 126 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regards further progress in precision farming, digitalisation, plant and animal breedand mainstreaming andof integrated pest management as essential, because increased efficiencfunctional biodiversity will help to reduce the impact of farming on the environment and also getting biodiversity to work for farmers will help improve incomes, soil health and performance, help in pest control and improve pollinisation.
Amendment 139 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that farmers are increasingly in debt and need low cost, low tech but equally effective solutions that don't leave them penniless and input dependent.
Amendment 144 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Notes further that low tech applications does not necessarily mean low research or innovation, as many systems especially biological control options require investment in science to discover and make applicable natural plant defence solutions.
Amendment 148 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Recalls in this context the importance of publically-funded independent, peer-reviewed science that is free from vested interest in pushing certain input dependency models.
Amendment 149 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Recalls that soil is not a sterile substrate, notes further that living systems like soil do not operate as a "black box" - there are synergies, inhibitions and buffering occurring. So precision farming adding precise amounts of N or P may be appropriate on a sterile, dead soil and with a massive capital investment and years of debt to follow, but for the vast majority of farmers, they can get better results for far less money or debt by simply bringing soil back to life via composting, kick-starting nutrient cycling, building topsoil and including leguminous crops in rotation, with equal if not better results in terms of productivity. Notes further that in a living soil all the essential nutrients are liberated, not only N/P/K, resulting in more robust and healthy plant growth which benefits from protection and nutrition from beneficial species.
Amendment 151 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Calls therefore for a Do No Harm agricultural policy and for policy coherence with development and environmental policy, to ensure that at least natural and social capital is not degraded further.
Amendment 152 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Calls for the SDGs to guide the CAP reform process and the policy direction beyond 2020, and calls for the next MFF to be SDG-compliant.
Amendment 153 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 g (new)
Paragraph 8 g (new)