Representing approximately 38% of the EU budget, the CAP can be seen both as a driver of biodiversity loss due to potential harmful subsidies, and as an opportunity for supporting sustainable agricultural practices – all in the framework of the food security and waste debate.

Unsustainable agriculture is one of the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss and therefore features in the IUCN Global Programme 2017-2020. Additional  commitments were made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2016 in Hawai'i as part of the Challenge of Sustaining the Global Food Supply while Conserving Nature. Sustainable agriculture and achieving a fundamentally improved European Agriculture Policy is also a top priority for IUCN Europe and forms part of its own Regional Work Programme 2017-2020.

"IUCN welcomes this consultation and will work with all actors to make the CAP work for farmers and conservation alike," said Luc Bas, Director, IUCN European Regional Office.

Read the European Commission's press release here.

Learn more about the European Commission's 10 priorities here.