ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION EFFECTS OF THE DEROGATION COVERING GAEC 7 AND 8 STANDARDS ON AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION, FOOD SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Currently, there have been numerous authorized derogations from environmental standards under CAP 2022 and 2023. These derogations are pushed hard by the agribusiness-lobby and criticised by many scientists. Despite of this, EU allows Member States to derogate from two Good Agricultural Environmental Conditions (GAECs) in the now freshly implemented CAP (2023-2027). These derogations concern GAEC 7 (crop rotations) and the first requirement of GAEC 8 (maintenance of non-productive areas). All those derogations from environmental obligations are supposedly implemented in order to ensure food security in the EU. Although the derogations on GAEC 7 & 8 might have a better impact in terms of food production, the added requirement will not change the deleterious impact of the measure on biodiversity and soil health.