An Analysis of Sustainability Policies in European Agriculture in the Long Term: Methods and Materials Using the FEEM Indicators

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how sustainability in European agriculture might evolve in the long run, depending on which different policy scenarios are used. Particular attention is paid to the role played by the “new challenges,” which are the policy aims of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013: climate change; safeguarding biodiversity; rational use of water resources and promotion of bio-energy. The conceptual framework is the new set of indicators on sustainability evaluation proposed by the Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei. No empirical findings have been carried out in this research. This study is aimed at highlighting the possible relationships between the challenges that the CAP faces if it is to guarantee sustainability in the sector and to evaluate how the promotion of these policy priorities can affect sustainability. The results of this qualitative analysis show the possible contradictions between the CAP objectives if harmonic and sustainable agricultural development is to be achieved.

Keywords:

• sustainability
• European agriculture
• FEEM sustainability index
• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)