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”