64 Amendments of Martin HÄUSLING related to 2017/2116(INI)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas it is vital to reduce the Union's massive dependency on imports of protein crops, which are mainly used for animal feed; in addition to the environmental impact in soya producing regions, the current situation carries major risks especially for the EU livestock sector, as price volatility on international markets has substantially increased;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the promotion of protein crop cultivation isas part of crop rotation can be a powerful tool in the transition towards more sustainable agri- food systems, supporting a shift from input-intensive crop monoculture towards diversified agro-ecological systems;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas our soya import dependency has a massive environmental, social and economic footprint, in particular regarding deforestation, land conversion and climate change, as well as land grabbing, especially in tropical forests and savannahs in South America;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the fact that protein crops include not only soybeans, but also grain and forage legumes, which can be grown in a diverse range of agro-climatic and soil conditions across Europe including Northern Europe;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that in crop rotation systems that include leguminous crops, the reproductive cycles of pests and pathogens are interrupted, thus reducing plant disease levels; Notes in addition that biodiversity is also increased through the breaking up of monocultures;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that proteinleguminous crops have a wide range of environmental benefits, such as being able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, using less fossil fuel-based fertilisers, improving soil properties, reducing disease levels, or ideally replacing, fossil fuel-based synthetic chemical fertilisers whose production requires an enormous amount of energy (between 1-2% of global greenhouse gas emissions) and improtecting biodiversityving soil properties;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that leguminous crops are attractive to pollinators, but that when insecticides are used on them, this can result in the death of pollinators;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the EU relies on massive imports of protein-rich feed materials, for the most part genetically modified herbicide tolerant soya, which may gives rise to serious environmental and social justice problems in source countries such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, ecosystem simplification, ecotoxicological effects including on non-target species as well as land grabbing, forced expulsion and other human rights abuses;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the majority of genetically modified soy imported into the EU has been made tolerant to one or more herbicides, such as glyphosate, which are therefore present as residues on the imported food and feed; Notes that, even though there are Maximum Residue Levels in place, that there is insufficient data on whether these MRLs are respected and therefore that there may be a higher than safe level of herbicide residues entering the food chain, with possible health impacts for both humans and animals;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that cows and other ruminants have co-evolved with beneficial bacteria which convert grass and other vegetation into a protein rich food source; Notes therefore that it is not desirable, from an environmental, health or economic perspective, to feed them with imported soya which has been transported long distances, given that local sources of feed could be used;
Amendment 55 #
4c. Notes that the shift away from ruminants feeding on forage to feeding on imported soya plus maize has led to the destruction of rainforests, permanent grasslands, meadows and pasture resulting in a devastating loss of biodiversity as well as to a loss of carbon due to land use change;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Believes that in order to reduce dependency on imported soya, which is predominantly used for animal feed, including in factory farming, pasture based feeding in Europe should be encouraged and incentivised;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Notes that, in addition to pasture- based feeding, other grazing or foraging alternatives are also available on temporary grassland such as grass-clover mixes and undersowing with leguminous crops such as vetch, lupins and grain legumes such as alfalfa;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports the objectives of the European Soya Declaration and other initiatives to boost non-genetically modified soya production and other protein crop cultivation in Europe provided that, in practice, they are implemented responsibly and respect the aims of developing agricultural systems which are sustainable, socially just and ecologically resilient;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the CAP has a decisive impact on farmers’ decisions to grow leguminous protein crops and should therefore be used to its full potential; Believes that farmers should receive payment and training for growing their own protein-forage, as well as having animals on pastures, as this would render them less dependent on imported soya while at the same time lead to higher animal welfare standards; Believes that in the upcoming reform, a payment for leguminous protein crops, grown as part of a crop rotation on arable land, should be re-introduced into the CAP;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that, although the volume of protein crops grown in the EU is currently low, the EU US Blairhouse Agreement remains in force; Believes that the need for this agreement should be re- considered and notes also that WTO exemption clauses exist for socially and environmentally beneficial support measures;
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas in order to reduce dependence on outside suppliers, it is necessary to focus on not only protein-rich crops but also on all other crops (including in forage and grassland areas) which, while they have a lesser protein content, are extensively cultivated throughout the Union; whereas there are many benefits of pasture-based grazing for ruminants including reducing farm input costs;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that once it has been in force for a few years, useful lessons should be learnt from the recent ban on the use of pesticides in ecological focus areas, whose primary function is to strengthen ecological processes by boosting biodiversity; Notes therefore that the ban on pesticides on EFAs is in line with the legislative goals;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas there is a need today for an assessment of need that considers local and global carrying capacities, leading to a strategic, effective and ambitious protein supply plan to be implemented for the sustainable development of European agriculture; whereas such a plan requires the mobilisation of several EU policies, first and foremost the CAP;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the by-products of food and bio-fuel production and certain processed animal proteins represent important alternative sources of proteins for feed;
Amendment 94 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that the GLOBIOM study of the European Commission already incorporates the greenhouse gas benefits of co-production of animal feed with biofuels in the recommended indirect land use emission estimates; notes also that the role of such co-products is often vastly overestimated;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Believes that the protein by- products of biomass, such as rape seed oil, should not be defined as sustainable since the production of biomass for biofuels is not sustainable;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the proteins research policy should be stepped up and extended over the long term to include locally adapted home grown leguminous crops based on farmer saved seed systems and exchanges;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that legumes are an important source of plant-based protein and therefore that they also play an important role in ensuring sustainable and healthy human diets; Believes that the volume of high quality, non GM protein crops grown in the EU needs to increase in order to satisfy growing consumer interest in, and demand for, plant-based diets;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas although the 1992 Blair House Agreement on proteins is nowstill in force, it is de facto obsolete ands it no longer reflects present-day realities; whereas WTO exemption clauses exist for socially and environmentally beneficial support measures;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas due to trophic cascading it is more efficient in terms of energy and land/resource use for people to eat vegetable proteins directly, rather than being secondary consumers; whereas there is therefore a need to question the current levels of livestock produced and consumed, regional and global carrying capacities and the EU's export orientation;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas the current potential for leguminous crop production is much broader than the relatively limited area in EFA; whereas incorporating leguminous crops in rotation on all arable land would bring significant benefits including soil fertility and biodiversity; whereas this is currently already possible via decoupled payments, although not all Member States have taken advantage of this;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need for heavy investment in research to solve the pressing agronomic, political and trade issues that are limiting protein crop cultivation;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)
Recital K c (new)
Kc. also that the recent prohibition of pesticides on EFA allows these areas to function as intended in the primary legislation , i.e. to boost biodiversity, rather than acting as death traps to the pollinators and beneficial predators attracted by the leguminous plants;
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports the establishment of transparent product labelling systems based on certified production standards, such as the Danube Soya and Europe Soya standards; Notes that concerns have been raised in regards to the sustainability criteria for some existing standards, as it has been observed that in Romania and the Ukraine soya production takes place in intensive monoculture systems and as a result of land grabbing;
Amendment 118 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls for the extension of the GMO labelling rules to cover products issued from animals that have mainly been fed with GM feed;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes the view that it is time to implement a major strategic European vegetable protein supply plan based on the sustainable development of all the crops grown throughout the EU; further takes the view that this change implies a substantial alteration of our production systems to meet the requirements of the circular economy and of agroecology that includes low input ruminant feeding strategies based both on permanent pasture and temporary grasslands on arable land;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recommends focusing on all protein resources including ruminant bacteria and thus on crops used both in human food and in farm animal feed;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes further that even soya grown in rotation can help to reduce the input of synthetic nitrate fertilisers up to 30 -50 kg of nitrate per hectare for the following crop, with even higher fertilisation effects of other legumes such as horse beans or peas in rotation;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls for crop rotation with a leguminous component on all arable land where climate allows;
Amendment 163 #
5a. Notes that leguminous crops are attractive to pollinators, but that when insecticides are used on them, this results in increased mortality rates of pollinators;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Highlights in addition that in crop rotation systems including leguminous crops, the reproductive cycles of pests and pathogens are interrupted, thus reducing plant disease levels and the need to apply pesticides; notes that an additional benefit is that biodiversity is also increased by breaking up year-on-year monocultures;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for greater attention to be paid to the management of grassland crops which, given the extensive areas they occupy, make a major contribution to meeting protein needs for animal feed; notes that leguminous crops like clover can progress well in grassland;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. HopUrges that crops such as lucerne, clover, sainfoin, and many other legumes may bare reintroduced into large-scale cultivation and forage systemsarable and forage systems e.g. by supporting sustainable farming methods like crop rotation with leguminous component or decreasing synthetic fertiliser application;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers it advisableSees the need to develop regional protein production and processing chains by creating closer links between cereal farmers and livestock farmers (supply and exchange contracts), and deems it usefulas to be important, to that end, to assist risk- taking by operators entering small supply chains for protein-based food and feed;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages promoting the production of high-quality, GMO-free proteins by improving theiwith clear traceability and labelling;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes that cows and other ruminants have co-evolved with beneficial enteric bacteria which convert grass and other vegetation into a protein rich food source; notes therefore that it is not desirable, from an environmental, health or economic perspective, to feed them with imported soya which has been transported long distances, given that local sources of feed could be used;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that the shift away from ruminants feeding on forage to feeding on imported soya plus maize has led to the destruction of rainforests, permanent grasslands, meadows and pasture resulting in a devastating loss of biodiversity as well as to a loss of carbon due to land use change;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Considers that the over-production and oversupply of milk and the effect on farmers’ incomes must be considered when drawing up a sustainable protein strategy;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes the view that in order to enhance proteinleguminous production it is necessary to rotate crops (over a minimum of three years) and increase mixing of varieties and crops in the pulse (clover/rape, triticale/peas etc.) and forage (leguminous grasses, meslins, etc.) production sectors to shift to a more sustainable agri-food system, supporting a shift from input-intensive crop monocultures within and outside the EU, towards diversified agroecological systems;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for research work to begin on: suitability for use in rotations and intercropping and mixed cropping, selection of new varieties and species; crop mixing; improvement of the yields, protein content and digestibility of animal feed (sprouted seeds, etc.); and biostimulants;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes that the co-production potential of oil and protein is often greatly overestimated and that the Commission's GLOBIOM study already factors in beneficial greenhouse gas savings in its indirect land use change (ILUC) estimates; notes that overreliance on biofuels and their by-products will cause direct and indirect land use changes with will therefore be unsustainable;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recommends greater use of precision agriculture in order to adjust plant nitrogen supplements and animal feed rations as accurately as possible so as to limit wastage and some types of pollution; notes that with increased N sinking by nitrogenous bacteria both free living in the soil and also in the root nodules of leguminous plants, the need for exogenous synthetic fertilisers is much reduced. Also that in a buffering system seen in living soils, there is no need for precision as the system adjusts itself to the needs of the plants;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers it important for the CAP to support protein crop cultivation by means of the voluntary coupled payment (which, if not restricted to crops and regions in difficulty, would give scope for more action) and the greening payment, and by means of the second pillar, particularly through agro- environmental measures on organic farming, investment quality, advice, trainingFarm Advisory System (FAS), training for growing their own protein-forage, pasture based grazing, choosing the optimum crop rotation, etc., as this would render them less dependent on imported soya while at the same time lead to higher animal welfare standards and of course innovation via the EIP;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Feels it is relevant to the future of the CAP to: consider additional proposals to support proteins, such as those for three- year-minimum rotation systems on all arable land to have a leguminous component; create an ecosystem payment that is more flexible than the greening payment so as to encourage sustainable agricultural practices; provide risk-taking mechanisms for innovators; and open up a proteins sub- priority in the rural development policy;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Supports the objectives of initiatives to boost non-genetically modified soya production and other protein crop cultivation in Europe provided that, in practice, they are implemented responsibly and respect the aims of developing agricultural systems which are sustainable, socially just and ecologically resilient;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls for research work to begin on: selection of new varieties and species; crop mixing; improvement of the yields, protein content and digestibility of animal feed (sprouted seeds etc.); and biostimulants;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for research efforts, particularly for public research, to be stepped up into under-developed protein crops which are still of little or no interest to private investors and which hampers to develop a sustainable development of the European farming system;
Amendment 308 #
20a. Notes that the main imported protein crop is soya with approx. 35 million tonnes of soya beans and -meal per year which come mainly from North and South America into the European Union;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Notes that a high amount of imported soya especially from overseas is produced by GMOs which causes more and more problems to farmers as the demand of GMO free production is rising and processors and retailers do more and more refuse agricultural products which are produced by the use of GMOs;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Notes that the majority of genetically modified soya imported into the EU has been made tolerant to one or more herbicides, such as glyphosate, which are therefore present as residues on the imported food and feed; notes that, even though there are Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) in place, that there is insufficient data on whether these MRL are respected and therefore that there may be a higher than safe level of herbicide residues entering the food chain, with possible health impacts for both humans and animals;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Believes that in order to reduce dependency on imported soya, which is predominantly used for animal feed, including in factory farming, pasture based feeding in Europe should be encouraged and incentivised;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that it is necessary to secure our soya supplies by cooperating more closely with our neighbourhood, in particular with Ukraine, which has opted for Europe and which produces soya that could be brought into the EU via the Danube; admits that a GMO-free soya cultivation is needed to meet consumers' demands;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Notes that much more efforts have to be taken to develop grass-clover mixes and under-sowing with leguminous crops such as vetch, lupins and grain legumes such as alfalfa;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Recalls that the EU relies on massive imports of protein-rich feed materials, for the most part genetically modified herbicide tolerant soya, which gives rise to serious environmental and social justice problems in source countries such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, ecosystem simplification, ecotoxicological effects including on non-target species as well as land grabbing, forced expulsion and other human rights abuses;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that although the 1992 Blair House Agreement is nowstill in force it is de facto obsolete and is likely to hamper the sustainable development of protein crop growing in Europe;