Historic impact of agriculture positive, but modern, intensive agriculture is a threat to biodiversity, water, soil, etc.
Modern agriculture depends not only on soil, water, biological systems, but also fossil fuels, medicines, chemicals, etc.
Fertiliser: Use decreasing, except in EU-10: nitrates are polluting drinking water and causing eutrophication (50% of Baltic N from agriculture)
Pesticides: Still a concern; localised contamination. Irrigation: Agricultural intensification; decline in the levels and
quality of water; degradation of the land (particularly in S Europe). Biofuels: Need to ensure overall environmental benefits. Intensification: ECE and the Balkans have untapped agricultural
potential, which may see intensified production to meet world demand for food.
Main objective has always been to increase production.
Rural E and SE Europe being abandoned due to low productivity and distance from major markets; poor labour efficiency in formerly collectivised economies; privatisation.
Both intensification and abandonment have negative outcomes.
EEA very optimistic about organic farming. Agriculture also subject to negative
environmental impacts.
Climate change: rainfall; seasonality; temperature; forestry as a response?
Livestock: Significant decreases during the 1990’s; livestock farming disastrous when coinciding with poor manure management
Services: Landscapes, habitats; tourism; carbon storage; bioenergy production?
Biodiversity
CAP no longer driving intensification RD funding rather than agri. funding Income pressure to specialise: how do we
offset this? Catch-up for E Europe Challenge of farming efficiently whilst
looking after the environment: all this has to be tackled together surely?
Key Issues:◦ Nutrient loads on freshwater◦ Loss of land to built development◦ Habitat fragmentation and species decline◦ Soil, air quality
CE European Landscape Convention (2004)◦ Cultural heritage; natural heritage
6th Environmental Action Plan (EAP)◦ Soil, air, sustainability, waste, pesticides.◦ Really stresses the importance of agent education.◦ How to aim beyond farming?
Ammonia: 85% manure, 15% fertilisers GHGs: 20 Mt CO2 eq. out of 68.5 related to
agriculture Pollution: 29.8% rivers Eutrophication: 16.2% lakes 60% of shoreline in some way polluted, along
with 30% of groundwater Unacceptable number of fish kills Few SPAs “Poor agricultural practice”