National Activities - UK Sustainable Surfactants Renewable Feedstocks for the 21st Century - Political Influences on the Supply Chain (Agenda 2000)

Contacts




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Competitive Industrial Materials from Non-Food Crops
Sustainable Surfactants: Renewable Feedstocks for the 21st Century
Wednesday 4 November 1998, Central Science Laboratory Agency, Sand Hutton, York

Political Influences on the Supply Chain (Agenda 2000)
David Clayton, Head Alternative Crops Unit, MAFF

The original objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), set by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, were:

• Increased productivity
• Fair standard of living
• Stabilise markets
• Ensured supplies
• Reasonable prices for consumers.

Since then there have been a series of reforms, with the latest included in what is known as Agenda 2000. This has a subtitle "For a stronger and wider Europe". Published in 1997 by the European Commission it sets out the development of the EU and its policies beyond 2000. Particular consideration is given to the question of the impact of enlargement on the EU (acession of the former central and eastern European countries).and the future financial framework. It includes further changes for agriculture, details of which are still under debate. In general they cover:

• Reform on arable, beef, dairy, olive oil, tobacco and wine.
• Single rural development instrument.
• Ceilings, modulation and cross-compliance.

The objectives are:

• Increased competitiveness
• Fair standard of living and stability of farm incomes
• New job/income opportunities
• Food safety and quality
• Environmental goals
• Simplification of EU legislation.

These objectives have to be considered against the wider background issues of

• EU Enlargement
• Future of CAP Budget
• World Trade Round

The Commission objectives, within Agenda 2000, concerning the arable sector are to:

• Avoid build up of intervention stocks in cereals
• Escape from Blair House restriction on oilseeds
• Trade at world market prices

To achieve this the Commission has proposed that:

• Cereals intervention price be reduced by 20% from 2000.
• Compulsory set-aside suspended, voluntary set-aside retained.
• Non-specific area payment for cereals, oilseeds and set-aside.
• Supplement for proteins.

The UK approach to the modification of the arable sector of Agenda 2000 is that:

• It is a step in the right direction.
• Price cut rather than production constraint is welcome
• Support for the single rate of aid.
• Suspension of compulsory set-aside is welcome, but
• The Commission could have gone further.

As far as Agenda 2000 and renewable raw materials are concerned, this is seen to offer new opportunity for agriculture and forestry where it can contribute to job creation in rural areas.

The European Commission is to produce a report and make recommendations on non-food crops.

The UK approach:

• More attention needed to the development of renewables .
• Industrial customers seeking to use RRM.
• Important climate change drivers.
• Opportunity to make a positive contribution to sustainability.
• Actively considering input to Commission report.

Contacts

Contact

• Sue FINLAY / DEFRA Organic Farming and Industrial Crops Division / UNITED KINGDOM

Participant

• LINK Secretariat BBSRC / UNITED KINGDOM

Speaker

• David CLAYTON / CNAP, Department of biology (Area 15) UNITED KINGDOM