1 Integrated Farming (IF) The Way Forward to Achieve Sustainable Agriculture EISA Meeting with Ms Alina-Stefania Ujupan.

1

www.sustainable-agriculture.org

Integrated Farming (IF)

The Way Forward to Achieve

Sustainable Agriculture

EISA Meeting with Ms Alina-Stefania Ujupan& Mr Yves Madre

Members of Cabinet of Commissioner Ciolos, European Commission

Brussels, 22 November 2010

2

LEAF’s Roots

EISA works from the ground upwards

EISA provides practical solutions to deliver sustainable agriculture

3

EISA Members

Founded in 2001 as an alliance of National Associations for the Promotion of Integrated Farming (IF),

with now associations from 6 EU Member States as Full Members

+ 7 National / European / International Associations from the farm supply chain as Associated Members:

ECPA - EFMA - ELO - FEFAC - GOSZ - IFAH-Europe - SAI Platform

Austria France Germany Luxembourg Sweden UK

united to deliver Sustainable Agriculture

Animal Husbandry

Wildlife &Landscape

Making a living

Crop Husbandry

EnergyEfficiency

Pollution Control

Soil Management

PR & Marketing

Integrated Farming – in practiceIntegrated Farming – in practice

Water Efficiency

5

Integrated Farming – A Planned Approach:

• Whole Farm Management Plans

- conservation

- nutrient management

- herd health

- energy & water use, etc.

• Tool for self-assessment, management and auditing

- developed with scientists, farmers and environmentalists

• Network of demonstration farms

• Communicating with the public

• Training & Skills development

EISA’s approach to Integrated Farming in practice

6

European definition of IF

- detailed description of IF and IF processes

- show where IF goes beyond CC/GAEC (= baseline)

- Whole farm management (11 chapters)

Practical Reference tool for

- politicians / administrations

- farmers

- industry and environmentalists

EISA’s Achievements

7

Guidance & Information in three languages

• Farmers version:

Management tool, to raise awareness, allow for self-assessment and achieve continuous everyday improvement on-farm

• Version for Policy / Administration:

Providing the basis for a common and Europe-wide understanding & application

• Templates:

One page papers on issues such as climate change, consumer demands, animal husbandry and health, soil management, crop protection ...

... With practical solutions to these issues through the adoption of Integrated Farming

EISA’s Achievements

8

EISA’s Achievements

A network of demonstration farms:

delivering sustainable farming in practice through the development and promotion of Integrated Farming

Over 450 demonstration sites throughout:• Austria• France• Germany• Luxembourg• Sweden• UK

Reaching out to over one million visitors each year!

9

EISA Demonstration Sites

• Sharing information

• Making change happen

• Practical solutions to deliver sustainable farming

• Active knowledge exchange

• Improved performance for the farm business, the environment & society

Nitrate content of 3 drinking water wells (mg/l)

10

Delivering Change through IF

11

Delivering Change through IF

Management of the un-cropped areas to provide nesting sites and food along with some targeted control of predators during the breeding season allowed for a dramatic increase in farmland bird numbers in just a three year period!

12

Delivering change through IF

• program “Agriculture and Biodiversity”

• jointly initiated by LPO, FARRE, CIVAM

and FNAB,

• extensive consultation

• involvement of farmers from more than

130 farms in 18 different French regions

• publication of 14 information sheets

• with strategies, tools and measures to

improve biodiversity on farms

• have since been used intensively

13

Close liaison with researchers:Building on science and working with many partners EISA members help deliver research into practice out on farm

Stakeholder engagement:Facilitating discussion to achieve practical, realistic and achievable ways to deliver sustainable agriculture across Europe

Public involvement:Engaging consumers and contributors across Europe through events and visits. Open Farm Sunday in the UK has welcomed over ¾ million consumers out on to farmFarmer stands and displays in Paris have engaged with thousands

Market focus:Adding value to farmers who deliver a better environment through the market place as with LEAF Marque

Delivering change through IF

14

EISA supporting the CAP towards 2020

Integrated Farming offers tools to achieve objectives outlined inthe EU-Communication” as of 29/09/2010, as ...

... Integrated Farming is targeted at

•the efficient and responsible use of all natural resources,

•reliable, secure, high quality food supply,

•reducing negative environmental effects such as GHG emissions ,

•sustaining farm incomes,

•education, training and solid management capabilities,

•diversification of farming businesses according to site and situation

•keeping rural areas and landscapes in Europe alive.

15

Integrated Farming (IF) is based on an educated management approach which decides according to a given site and situation.

Providing farmers / advisors and authorities throughout Europe with adequate training, information and tools will help to foster sustainable development on farms.

Efficient resource use through IF contributes to smart growth and sustainable growth as outlined in chapter 4 of the EU-Communication.

The IF concept as developed by EISA in dialogue with a wide variety of stakeholders is readily available to be taken up by EU bodies and to be used throughout Europe.

EISA supporting the CAP towards 2020

16

EU & national decision-makers

• Climate Change

• Soil Conservation

Farmers

• Protecting & enhancing the environment & our key resources

• Providing economic sustainability on the farm

• Leading the way in compliance & climate change solutions

Consumers

• Engaging with consumers to meet global demand for quality, healthy & safe food

• Building trust and understanding in the achievements of agriculture

Integrated Farming offers Solutions to …

• Biodiversity

• Water Management

• IPM

• …

17

Our Demonstration Farm Network:

• Demonstrating and communicating modern and sustainable farming to all interested stakeholders

• Explaining EU and national agricultural policies

• Demonstrating means, measures, and tools of sustainable agriculture to farmers / advisors

By means of ...

• open farm days

• visits

• farmers‘ exchanges, round tables, IF seminars, training

EISA’s offer to the Commission

18

Farmers Version of the EISA Framework:

• a tool to raise awareness of the individual farmer

• a tool for self-assessment of individual farmers

• a teaching tool for advisors / advisory services

• a tool for practical agricultural education

• a means of communication in the food chain

To be used throughout the EU.

EISA’s offer to the Commission

19

EISA and its members are committed to bringing Integrated Farming

forward throughout Europe to deliver sustainable food & farming.

• We offer our active involvement in the process of spreading the

“Integrated Farming message”

• We provide the EISA material (IF Framework, Farmers Version, Version

for Policy and Administration, Templates) as a basis for further activities

and communication

• We offer our Demonstration Farm network for national and European

Farmers’ Exchange Programmes, IF seminars, Farm Visits

EISA’s offer to the Commission

20

Supporting EISA to help deliver change

EU bodies

• recognize IF as a practical approach to sustainable agriculture

• support and foster the development & promotion of IF EU-wide

- i.e. through (co-)sponsoring the dissemination of EISA’s tools including Farmers Version of the IF Framework

- translation into various EU languages (handy brochures)

- targeted distribution in selected countries via national administration and farming associations

• Support (financial & promotion) for the further development of the EISA Demonstration Farm Network

21

EU bodies

support the development & promotion of Integrated Farming actively

EU-wide, e.g. through :

•Financial support for the creation of IF associations in countries where

there is a need and interest (Poland, Hungary, Slovac Republic, etc…)

•Support for seminars in these countries, targeted at administration,

advisors / advisory services, farmers, and potential members of national

IF associations.

Supporting EISA to help deliver change

22

Investing in the Future

23

EISA - Delivering Change

Thank you!

We would like to invite the Commissioner and his

Cabinet to visit our demonstration farms

Contact Mr Robby Schreiber,

Tel: 02 / 660.82.14 [email protected]

www.sustainable-agriculture.org