The European Commission adopted this Tuesday, February 13, a partial exemption from fallow obligations in 2024. This exemption was demanded by some farmers during the major demonstrations in January in several European countries.
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Since the entry into force of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the start of 2023, farms of more than 10 hectares had to leave 4% of arable land fallow or dedicate it to agroecological elements, such as hedges or groves. An essential rest for biodiversity and soil health. When it is not cultivated, the land regenerates naturally, fixes nitrogen and carbon, which guarantees, when it is put back into cultivation, better yields.
A virtuous practice for environmental defenders who see it as a compromise between economic interests and the necessary protection of biodiversity. A loss of income for certain farmers who campaigned for this exemption. The European Commission had already completely suspended this condition in 2023 to produce more and compensate for the disruptions in Ukrainian and Russian cereal supplies following the invasion of Ukraine. And a majority of member states, including France, vigorously pleaded to renew this exemption.
The European Commission under pressure
Under pressure after weeks of agricultural demonstrations where the question of fallow land sometimes seemed like a scarecrow, Brussels finally proposed at the end of January a “ partial exemption “. Faced with soaring fertilizer and energy costs, the impact of Ukrainian imports and even “extreme climatic episodes”, farmers “ have difficulty complying » the obligation to fallow, because they risk a “ significant impact on their income », recognizes the Commission.
According to the decision published this Tuesday, farmers will be able to receive aid if they reach at least 4% by adding not only any fallows and non-productive areas, but also intermediate crops (growing between two main crops) or nitrogen-fixing crops. (lentils, peas, etc.) without the use of phytosanitary products. The relaxation will only be valid this year, specifies the regulation published in the Official Journal of the European Union (EU).
“ We sacrifice ecology »
The decision was adopted despite the reluctance of some EU member countries, unable to achieve the necessary majority to approve the text during a vote last Friday. Italy voted against, like three other countries. In the absence of approval from the Member States, the Commission retained the possibility of deciding alone. States can now apply this exemption to their farmers, but it is not an obligation. “ I am committed to ensuring that this hasty and immature decision will not be implemented in Germany », Reacted the German Minister of the Environment, Steffi Lemke. Conversely, the French Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau “ rejoiced » of a “ derogation simplifying the achievement of environmental objectives linked to the CAP, without calling them into question “.
But this partial fallow exemption has a cost. Cultivating soil that is not very fertile offers no guarantee of yield and affects biodiversity. “ This demand from the FNSEA in France and the Copa-Cogeca in Europe is inconsistent and cannot be justified. It’s not logical to go in this direction, or else we don’t know what’s happening on the planet at the moment. We sacrificed the ecology and the economy of small farmers. It is only the agricultural industry and the chemical multinationals that win », Explains Claude Guffart, Green MEP, on RFI after the announcement by the European Commission of the adoption of the partial exemption.
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(And with AFP)