Agriculture

Vatican plans solar and agriculture plant to cover its electricity needs

The Vatican will build a roughly €100 million ($117 million) renewable energy plant that could power the Holy See within two ‌years via a system combining solar power and agriculture,…

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Coffee firms ill-prepared for EU rules on living wages, report finds

None of the world's top coffee roasters and traders have committed to paying farmers a living income even though ‌this is set to become a legal obligation for large companies…

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European Parliament backs new rules to strengthen farmers’ contracts and incomes

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved new rules aimed at strengthening the contractual position of farmers and helping to stabilise their incomes. MEPs adopted the legislation by 560 votes in…

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EU Steps Up Support for Ukraine, Warns of Prolonged Energy Strain From Middle East Conflict

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the European Union will press ahead with financial and military support for Ukraine while bracing for extended economic fallout from the…

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Meat Alternatives Split the Market: Veggie Burgers Stay, Lab-Grown Steaks Stall

“Veggie burgers” and “vegan sausages” can remain on European supermarket shelves, EU negotiators agreed Thursday. However, only products made of animal flesh can use terms like “steak” or “bacon.” Unless…

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Washing fruit doesn’t remove pesticides, study find

A new scientific report lends weight to consumer concerns about pesticide residues on food, presenting fresh evidence that washing fruit before eating does not remove various toxic chemicals commonly used…

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Publication of EU proposals for farmers delayed, says commissioner

WARSAW, March 15 (Reuters) - The European Union has delayed publication of proposals for farmers, Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said on Friday, as the bloc seeks to put an end…

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Ukraine’s key food exports have fallen by almost half since Russian war

xports of key Ukrainian agricultural commodities have fallen by almost half since the start of the Russian invasion earlier this year compared to the same period in 2021, data from the agriculture ministry showed late on Monday. Russia began its attack on…

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Putin ally warns agriculture supplies could be limited to ‘friends’

April 1 (Reuters) - One of President Vladimir Putin's allies warned on Friday that Russia, a major global wheat exporter, could limit supplies of agriculture products to "friendly" countries only, amid Western…

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Russia plans to ban sunflower seed exports, impose quota on sunoil

March 31 (Reuters) - Russia will ban exports of sunflower seeds from Friday until the end of August and impose an export quota on sunflower oil for a similar period to avoid…

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USDA to spend $1 bln to promote climate-friendly agriculture

Feb 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $1 billion in pilot projects that promote farming, ranching and forestry practices that cut greenhouse gas emissions or capture…

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EU to extend support for wine, fruit and vegetable sectors

The European Commission said on Wednesday it would increase support and extend existing measures for the wine, fruit and vegetable sectors after they suffered from spring frosts, floods and heat…

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EU farming policy failing to fight climate change, auditors say

The European Union's huge subsidy programme for agriculture is failing to rein in greenhouse gas emissions from farming, despite 100 billion euros of such subsidies being labelled as climate spending since 2014,…

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Commission extends flexibilities of Common Agricultural Policy checks for 2021

With restrictions still in place across the EU, the Commission adopted today rules to extend to 2021 flexibilities for carrying out checks required for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support. The…

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Estonia’s goverment to boost support for agriculture by €3.8 million

ERR EE - The Estonian government was reported to be boosting the extraordinary support for agriculture by €3.8 million in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the…

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Malta: Inspections on second hand agricultural machinery imported from UK from March

All imports of second hand agricultural machinery imported from third countries including the United Kingdom will be subjected to import control by the Plant Protection Directorate, as from 1 March,…

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France to help farmers to abandon glyphosate weedkiller

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - France will give financial aid to farmers who agree to halt use of glyphosate, the farm ministry said on Monday after President Macron said he…

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Malta: PN leader calls for new social pact for agriculture

Nationalist Party leader, Bernard Grech, said that the party does not consider the agricultural sector as a burden but another economic pillar which complements the remainder of our socio-economic model.…

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Commission proposes fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North Sea for 2021

On Tuesday, the Commission published its proposal setting out catch limits for fish stocks in the Atlantic and the North Sea. Based on this proposal, EU fisheries ministers will set…

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Malta: More accessibility for 3,000 farmers through European funds

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo together with the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi expressed great satisfaction with the success of the implementation…

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EU support to farmers under current framework extended to end 2022

The European Council and Parliament agreed to extend support European farmers under the current legal framework until the end of 2022 when the new Common Agricultural Policy will enter into…

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Farm to Fork policy changes should not be hurried at time of insecurity – EPP

The centre-right European grouping in Parliament expressed its concern that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission is pushing for deep changes to the EU's food production…

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EU Commission announces exceptional measures to support the agri-food sector

The European Commission is taking swift action and proposes additional exceptional measures to further support agricultural and food markets most affected. The EU agri-food sector is showing resilience in these…

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Europe’s new jobless urged to pick fruit amid huge farm labour shortage

From Italy to Britain, travel bans to curb the spread of COVID-19 have left farms across western Europe short of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, raising fears that…

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Europe’s hot summer weather could worsen the effects of COVID-19

Unseasonably warm temperatures across most of Europe is currently enjoying could aggravate the situation for the agricultural sector as crops will suffer greatly. And experts say there is a very…

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Agricultural sector at risk in Europe without migrant workers

Farmers across Europe bank on improvised armies of pickers to save harvest, as coronavirus lockdowns have stopped migrant workers from arriving to carry out the work. Fruit and vegetable crops…

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Commissioner Hogan insists ‘no-deal’ Brexit makes no sense

Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said a 'no-deal' Brexit makes no sense and is the worst possible Brexit outcome. Hogan, who hails from Ireland, made the comments when asked about comments…

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EU agriculture is threatened by internal divisions and rival trading blocs – Macron

European Union agriculture is being threatened by internal divisions and rival trading blocs, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday, calling for a large budget to defend EU goals on…

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Spanish pig population is 3.5 million more than that of humans

Spain is being forced to consider the environmental impact of its most famous product as figures show there are now more pigs in Spain than people. A report produced for…

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EU member states approve ban on the use of three pesticides harmful to bees

EU member States on Friday approved a proposal from the European Commission to ban the use in the open of three pesticides found to be harmful to bees. The use…

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