Russia-Ukraine conflict could delay implementation of EU ‘Green Deal’

The European Commission is expected to postpone the publication of proposals for sustainable farming and nature, due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The EU’s ‘Green Deal’ is aimed at overhauling all sectors, including agriculture, which reportedly produces about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.

Among the targets is to halve chemical pesticide use by 2030 by introducing more sustainable pesticide legislation.

Earlier, EU food safety commissioner Stella Kyriakides told national agriculture ministers in Brussels that the bloc had to shift to sustainable pesticide use, but that the RussiaUkraine crisis did not give the “political space” for a proper discussion now, Reuters reported. The commission would thus propose measures to deal with the impact of the conflict, which was driving up wheat and barley prices, and raising fears of shortages. According to Reuters, the new proposals included allowing the cultivation of fallow land; assistance for pig farmers, as pork exports to Ukraine had been suspended; and greater freedom for countries to provide state aid.

However, a group of 400 scientists responded to these plans by saying that abandoning sustainable farming practices would be counterproductive.

“These measures would not move us toward, but further away from a reliable food system that is resilient to future shocks, and delivers healthy and sustainable diets,” they said in a statement.

They called instead for a shift to crops less reliant on fertilisers produced using Russian gas, and more plant-based diets to reduce the volume of grain needed for animal feed.

FW ARCHIVE The EU‘s new proposals include offering aid to pig farmers, as pork exports to Ukraine have been suspended.