Eco-schemes for a greener CAP

5 August 2021

The new CAP will pass from “one-size fits-all” approach of the current green payment system to reward system according to which the more committed farmers are in developing sustainable practises, the higher the compensation will be.

For this reason, with he new regulation the 25% of the direct payments will be allocated to eco-schemes, providing stronger incentives for climate and environment-friendly farming practices. For Italy the 25% of the direct payments will corrispond to ci.ca 900,7 million per year, which equals to almost 100 euro/ha per year.

The list of the action areas related to climate, environment, animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance which will contribute to reaching the EU Green Deal targets will be defined at EU level. A list of potential ecoschemes has been oublished by the Comission and includes organic farming practices, agro-ecology such as crop rotation with leguminous crops or low intensity grass-based livestock system. 

Eco-schemes will be mandatory for EU countries to include in their plans, but voluntary for farmers. The new CAP states a a two-year “learning period” (2023 and 2024), during which it is accepted that Member States could spend less 25% in eco-schemes if it registered a lower take-up by farmers than planned, but the State has to make up the majority of the shortfall by the end of 2027.