Environmental issues should be at centre of agricultural policy in Europe

The report, compiled by the London-based Institute for European Environmental Policy, also states that further progress towards de-coupling farm subsidies from production would be appropriate in environmental terms. The study suggests agri-environment payments that encourage farmers to go above the level of good farming practice.

There are also shortfalls in the implementation of many environmental policies relating to agriculture, the report notes, and suggests a variety of changes including amending market regimes that provide incentives for environmentally damaging production.