About: smart farming
Sowing the seeds of the post-2020 CAP
In June 2018, the European Commission unveiled its much-awaited plans for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In light of the Brexit and the emergence of new priorities such as security and immigration, the Commission proposed a 5% cut in...
EU agri-food operators sign milestone data sharing deal
In a bid to speed up the exploitation of new technologies in EU farming, a coalition of associations from the EU agri-food chain signed on 23 April a joint EU Code of Conduct on sharing of agricultural data.
Hogan: 3 reasons EU farmers should take the risk and invest in agriculture
European farmers should invest in post-2020 agriculture as it will be less bureaucratic, more focused on “technology breakthroughs” and will improve their standard of living, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com.
Hogan: Post-2020 CAP will ensure level playing field across EU
EU farmers should not fear a “re-nationalisation” scenario for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy as the Commission is set to give member states more powers to implement their own CAP national plans, Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV. But the...
Farmers say CAP simplification and digitisation will attract investment
A revamped European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with less paperwork and more long-term policy perspective focused on digitisation will attract more investment and more young people to the sector, EU farmers argue.
Precision farming position in the new CAP still unclear
New technologies will keep on receiving financial support in the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020 “possibly” under the current funding regime. However, it’s not clear yet whether precision farming will be linked to the direct payments pillar or to the environmental performance in general.
Farming debates in 2018: Innovation and the new CAP
In light of Brexit, there is no doubt that the future of the EU agricultural policy will dominate discussions in Brussels in 2018. But the need for innovation and the introduction of new technologies in the sector will spark intense debates and trigger strong reactions from green NGOs.
Digitising European farming equipment: The way forward for successful and sustainable farming?
Innovation and digitisation have become an increasingly important dimension in European farming to ensure profitable, competitive and sustainable products. Precision farming is becoming more and more of a reality across Europe.
Farmers welcome CAP simplification, wary of renationalisation
EU farmers have joined the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy by stressing the need to simplify common rules, but they have vigorously rejected any attempt to renationalise the bloc’s biggest common policy.
Greek farmers highlight the need for advisory in agriculture
Greece needs new and functional structures and enhanced farm advisory services in order to give smart farming a boost, an agricultural expert told EURACTIV.com.
Agriculture expert: A ‘third body’ is needed between science and EU politicians
In order to rebuild confidence in EU decision-making, there is a need to establish a “third independent body” between EU politicians and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as neither NGOs nor the industry can say whether a substance should be banned or not.
Greece vows to use Copernicus to boost smart farming
The Greek government aims to use Copernicus, Europe's earth-monitoring system, to maximise the potential of smart farming, which will help the country ensure its position in the post-crisis era, Greece's digital policy minister told EURACTIV.com.
EU mulls incentives for space technologies in farm controls
The European Commission is considering new proposals to encourage the use of technologies to monitor farm parcels receiving subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), an EU official told EURACTIV.com.
Legislators push smallholders to the heart of smart farming talks
Several EU lawmakers from the European Parliament's agriculture committee expressed their concerns on Wednesday (30 August) about the introduction of new technologies in farming, claiming that it might put smallholders at risk.
Yara boss: Africa has major potential in future food security
Europe will remain an important supplier of agricultural goods in the future but the greatest untapped potential lies in Africa, which could become the “bread basket” for the rest of the world, the president of Yara, a multinational fertiliser and crop nutrition company, told EURACTIV.
Precision farming may drive down food prices, Commission claims
Precision farming practices in the EU could play a role in driving food prices down, European Commission sources told EURACTIV.com.
Commission: The future relies on boosting ‘Smart Villages’
In an effort to revitalise rural communities and make them more attractive and sustainable, together with MEPs, the European Commission on Tuesday (11 April) launched an EU action called “Smart Villages”.
Commission: Technology will make farming more transparent to consumers
Technologies can enhance “transparent farming” and, as a result, better inform European consumers about the food they eat, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
French farmers seek expert advice on going digital
France’s farming community has already started introducing new technologies but it’s still concerned about the cost as well as the lack of information on the “right choices” of equipment.
Smart farming seeks role in post-2020 CAP
Precision farming could play a leading role in making EU agriculture more sustainable. But green NGOs claim that the concentration of food production in the hands of the agri-food industry will have catastrophic consequences.
Hogan: Data ownership should not weaken farmers’ position
Data ownership and access should be organised in such a way that farmers' competitiveness is improved, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
Smart farming hinges on e-skills and rural internet access
The digitisation of agriculture could help Europe address food security and environmental issues at the same time. But realising this vision will require e-skills, proper broadband infrastructure and big data management, experts warn.
EU farming getting smarter
The European Union is exploring ways of helping its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) enter the digital era after 2020.