(European dimension of the `Charta for Agriculture and Consumers` of the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection)” in Berlin on 26 January 2012.

In this workshop, EISA members presented and discussed various communication activities – all designed to inform the public about modern, sustainable agriculture in Europe.

Awareness, innovation and thorough balance of ecology and economy Integrated Farming points the way for future agriculture

EISA (Brussels): The annual EISA Farmers Exchange, hosted by Odling i Balans, the Swedish association for the promotion of sustainable agriculture, took place in Southern Sweden this year. “The event gave excellent insights in modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly agriculture again”, said Tony Worth, chairman of EISA. “The Farmers Exchange has taken us to Sweden, France, Luxemburg, the UK, Germany and Austria in past years – and even though we have not left Central Europe, it is amazing to see how agriculture needs to respect different regions, different climatic and growing conditions as well as diverse marketing opportunities. The flexibility of Integrated Farming to adapt practices according to site and situation is a clear “sustainability advantage” of this production system”, Worth concluded:

For Sven Norup, Chairman of Odling i Balans, there is one distinctive feature of Integrated Farming (IF): “Farmers who follow this holistic system do not just act according to the relevant legislation: It is the IF planning, management and evaluation approach which allows to go beyond legal requirements, to develop perspectives and to improve everyday practice continuously.”

During the two day event, farmers and representatives of IF and other organisations from the agricultural chain visited three farms in Southern Sweden and the Swedish University ofAgricultural Sciences at Alnarp, putting a particular focus on environmental issues such as climate effects, manure handling, bio-energy, nitrogen efficiency and reduced tillage. Besides EISA members and farmers, EU-representatives and other interested stakeholders are invited to participate in this regular Farmers Exchange.

The European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture (EISA), founded in 2001, is an association of national farmers organisations from six EU Member States. National member organisations are FARRE (Forum de l’Agriculture Raisonnée Respectueuse de L’Environnement, France), FILL (Fördergemeinschaft Integrierte Landbewirtschaftung, Luxemburg), FNL (Fördergemeinschaft Nachhaltige Landwirtschaft, Germany), LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming, United Kingdom), ÖAIP (Österreichische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Integrierten Pflanzenschutz, Austria) and OiB (Odling i Balans, Sweden), all with the common aim to develop and promote Integrated Farming on a European level.

• The Program (pdf)
• Press Information after event

EISA, the European Association for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture, and their national members very much appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the development of the future Common Agricultural Policy. EISA are looking forward to a debate which in the end will allow to achieve a stable and predictable legal framework

• for sustainable, efficient, innovative and competitive European agriculture,
• ensuring adequate incomes for European farmers,
• supporting farmers in their continuous delivery of a multitude of public benefits.

A clear focus must be put on securing high quality food supplies for roughly half a billion EU-citizens and also increasing the supply of environmentally friendly renewable energy and raw materials. In order to strengthen rural areas in Europe by generating jobs, income and positive economic development, agriculture must be sustainable and productive – and use and at the same time conserve our natural resources for coming generations.

EISA and their members highlight the importance of Integrated Farming (IF) as a holistic all-farm approach and guideline for further development of European agriculture. Beyond the continuously growing world population and the globally increasing demand for food, feed and renewable energy, there still are some areas of global concern: climate change with higher temperatures, lower water availability and the invasion of new pests, and environmental issues such as the conservation of biodiversity, the protection of ground and surface water and the conservation of soils. Integrated Farming addresses these issues as well as societal demands as decisive elements of sustainability.

With regard to the future development of the Common Agricultural Policy, the EISA European Integrated Farming Framework describes guidelines, practices and suggestions for agricultural production, covering a wide range of aspects such as “Organisation, Management and Planning”, “Human and Social Capital”, “Energy Use and Efficiency”, “Water Use and Protection”, “Climate Change and Air Quality”, “Soil Management”, “Crop Nutrition”, “Crop Protection”, “Animal Husbandry and Animal Health”, “Landscape, Wildlife and Biodiversity” and “Resource Management, Product Storage and Waste Disposal”. This allows for practical implementation of an all-farm approach rather than merely considering individual farming practices.

The EISA IF Framework is designed as a tool to be used on two different levels:

• For the individual farmer (farm owner, farm manager), the EISA Framework offers a comprehensive management tool which helps to further raise awareness, to continually improve everyday practice on farm and to achieve progress in all dimensions of sustainable development.
• For politics and administration all over Europe, the EISA Framework presents the basis for common understanding which can help to effectively shape legislative incentives and measures.

For the Integrated Farming concept, a clear and unbureaucratic legal CAP framework is needed. However, this CAP framework must leave the flexibility for farmers all over Europe to act according to their given site and situation. Hence, education, training, and capable advisory services must be understood as prerequisites for practical implementation. Only with these prerequisites, European farmers are capable to be productive, resource efficient and environmentally friendly at the same time. Last but not least, research in further innovations must be seen as decisive tool for sustainable development and hence as one element of future CAP, too.

EISA – the association
The European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture (EISA) was founded with the common aim of developing and promoting Integrated Farming throughout Europe. EISA members also help create a better public understanding of agriculture through a network of demonstration farms. EISA brings farmers and consumers together to raise awareness of how farmers are working in harmony with nature to produce high quality, safe food and renewable resources with environmental and social care.

As an organisation EISA works closely with EU Institutions and other stakeholders to contribute to the development of EU agricultural and environmental policies. With regard to future CAP, EISA and their members are willing to contribute actively to the further process of developing the CAP as a “corridor” for sustainable development in European agriculture.

Austria, Rust (Vienna Vicinity)
21-23 September 2009

Policy Meets Practice
European Commission representatives join annual EISA Farmers Exchange on Integrated Farming

• Event programme click here
• Participants list with contact details click here
• To learn more about “Plant and animal production in Austria” and to receive information on the farms visited, click here
• For detailed information on some work issues of the Test & Research Station of the Vienna University of Agriculture and of the Government of Lower Austria click here
• Photo Gallery, click here
• Press release, click here

Food Safety and Security

Wednesday 10 December 2008

The Press Release

The Presentations
Achievements of Integrated Farming
Integrated Farming (IF): Ensures Food Safety…