In a new policy brief, ProVeg International has called for the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidies to be restructured to prioritise sustainable crop production.
According to the policy brief, subsidies should incentivise farming that enhances nature, improves rural livelihoods, and minimises social and economic costs. ProVeg notes that some agricultural practices have consequences such as deforestation, soil degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss; in response, production may be intensified even further, creating a vicious cycle of harm.
Along with incentives for sustainable crop production, the policy brief also recommends “true-cost accounting” for food production. It argues that if subsidies were allocated according to the true cost of food — accounting for factors such as environmental impact and the economic and human cost of unhealthy diets — they would be redirected towards sustainable, organic, and regenerative farming methods.

Supporting farmers to diversify
Informed by conversations with farming organisations across Europe and the UK, the policy brief also makes several other recommendations, including:
- A dedicated grant fund for farmers to diversify their crops and shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices.
- Improved access to capital to allow farmers to benefit from sustainable food production.
- Knowledge and infrastructure systems development supporting farmers to diversify.
- Increasing demand for sustainable produce through minimum requirements for plant-based and organic foods in public food procurement policies and lower VAT rates on plant-based and organic products.
- Policies creating long-term support systems for farmers focused on autonomy and community engagement.

Building resilience for farmers
In related news, EIT Food’s Protein Diversification Think Tank has just published a white paper describing the actions required to support producers in transitioning to future-fit farming practices. Compiled following a series of roundtables involving stakeholders across the food system, it calls for the establishment of a narrative around protein diversification and opportunities for farmers.
Suggestions include the development of a bank of case studies demonstrating viable paths of shifting to new business models, along with investment in further research and support at the intersection of farming and protein diversification.
“Agricultural policies must prioritise sustainable farming practices, restore ecosystems, and build resilience for farmers, ensuring a future where agriculture and ecosystems thrive mutually,” said Josh Bisig, Senior Policy Research Manager at ProVeg and co-author of the organisation’s new policy brief. “It is in the hands of EU policymakers to make that decision. They have the power to channel the massive EU budget for agriculture into climate- and environmentally-friendly food production and make farming fit for the future.”