Ein wegweisendes Jahr für Eh da-Flächen
A groundbreaking year for „Eh da-Areas“

Introduction
In the course of the year 2013 the project of determine the potential at “Eh da-Areas” in agricultural landscapes which is initiated from the Association of the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture (Fördergemeinschaft nachhaltige Landwirtschaft, FNL) could reach sundry milestones. As a reminder: “Eh da-Areas” are areas…
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(Photo: Fg, Text: Institut für Agrarökologie (IfA) / Institute for Agroecology (IfA))

The concept of Sustainable Intensification (SI) is used in the context of feeding a global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050.
The RISE report comprises the first analysis of SI in a European context, and argues it must be the paradigm within which future agricultural policy is made in the EU.
The report makes three key points:

• The agricultural input which needs to be intensified across all of Europe is knowledge per hectare. This means knowledge in managing delicate ecosystems, knowledge to ensure that pollinator populations thrive, knowledge to make water management minimise flooding, as well as knowledge to achieve more food output per hectare.

•  The EU needs to devise a measurement tool for environmental farming performance. It would be strongly preferable to build on an EU-wide set of indicators already developed, for example the Joint Research Centre’s IRENA indicators.

•  In addition to better enforcement of existing environmental regulations, and using policy measures under the CAP, changes in farming practices must also come from farmers and private actors themselves. Many companies up- and downstream   already operate sustainability schemes, some of which are reviewed in the report. These should be strengthened and broadened, with more efforts to monitor and demonstrate their impact.

Full Report available for download at
The Sustainable Intensification of European Agriculture (6 Mb)

FNL Position Paper 2014: 

According to estimates of the United Nations, more than nine billion people will live on this planet by 2050. Correspondingly, the social and economic dimensions of this demographic change are immense. Ensuring sufficient food supply for the world population will be the biggest challenge. At the same time, the supply situation is already tight today. The effect is aggravated due to highly volatile food prices which are by trend increasing. In addition, there is the scarcity of agricultural resources, as fertile land and water to be used for global food production both are limited. Estimates indicate that… Read more…

No 150 – MARCH-APRIL 2014 – BIMONTHLY MAGAZINE
The 7th Forum for the Future of Agriculture demonstrated that balancing environmental and agricultural security remains a priority at both the European and International level. With over 1.500 participants at the Square, a strong online following and intense debate by panellists and guests alike, we can say with confidence that the FFA has become one of the premier events on the Brussels’ agricultural calendar.
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FACT SHEET
Animals, like people, need to be in good health to lead a good life, to provide companionship and services (pets and working animals), and to provide safe and nutritious food products (food-producing animals). Like people, animals also get sick and need medicines too.
Animal health products are a key contributor to sustainable development and a healthier planet through ensuring the supply of safe, healthy food as well as high standards of health and welfare for animals and people.
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FACT SHEET
Animals are sensitive beings capable of feeling pain, stress, discomfort and hunger and people care about how farm animals are treated.
Animal health is a pre-condition for animal welfare and the animal health industry provides a broad variety of medicines and vaccines to support animal welfare.
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FACT SHEET
Sustainable food production is, in essence, the production and supply of food in a manner that is beneficial to society, environmentally responsible and economically viable.
Animal health products are essential tools in the production of safe, quality food, and are vital to the protection of animal health and welfare. This fact sheet addresses the animal health industry’s contribution to sustainable production of safe food. Read more …

Collaboration is in the air, because we acknowledge how difficult it is. It requires awareness of your own needs, but it requires real listening and trust equally. During the courageous process of collaboration real new opportunities may come to live. Or not, and that is part of the game too. We learned about … Read more