Research from the School of Economics could help shape changes to the EU\u2019s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) being considered by the European Parliament.<\/p>\n
Professor Sophia Davidova, Professor of European Agricultural Policy, is leading an international team of researchers looking at proposals for a new CAP package for the period 2013\u201320.<\/p>\n
Professor Davidova is studying the value of semi-subsistence and small family farming to communities across Europe, using case studies in countries such as Italy, Portugal and Poland \u2013 as well as the example of Scotland\u2019s crofters. Her colleague Dr Alastair Bailey will investigate the contribution of small farms to the rural environment and traditional landscapes.
\nAround 66 per cent of Europe\u2019s farmers \u2013 8 million out of total of 12 million \u2013 receive direct payments under the current CAP arrangements. Around 70 per cent of farm holdings in the EU area are less than five hectares. However, very small farmers are currently excluded from the CAP.<\/p>\n
Professor Davidova said: \u2018The research will consider the future of small and semi-subsistence farmers within the context of the CAP.<\/p>\n
\u2018In many countries these types of farms have become more important politically because of their social value in acting as a buffer against pockets of rural poverty.<\/p>\n
\u2018They also have a role in preserving rural communities and protecting traditional environmental features. The long tradition of family farming in many countries in Europe has contributed towards the maintenance of a living countryside, linked to local towns, with an attractive landscape and biodiversity.\u2019<\/p>\n
The research will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposals on the table for the CAP after 2013 and make recommendations on policy measures to enhance the capacity of small farmers across Europe to deliver public good.<\/p>\n
Professor Davidova\u2019s research findings will be presented to the European Parliament in May 2013. Research from the School of Economics could help shape changes to the EU\u2019s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) being considered by the European Parliament. Professor Sophia … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39722,"featured_media":1923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[94132,70],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39722"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1924,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194\/revisions\/1924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/economics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nFor further information or interview requests contact Martin Herrema in the Press Office at the University of Kent
\nTel: 01227 823581
\nEmail: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"