CAP implementation: insights into three years of policy

What is the potential of the CAP to boost rural areas? How is the CAP connecting to other EU policies? How does it impact producers and consumers, and therefore the whole of society, beyond rural areas? Since the EU CAP Network was officially launched in autumn 2022, we have been looking at all this through a series of web articles that remain available on the EU CAP Network website and provide a lot of food for thought. Below is a short recap of the most recent ones.

Supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing sectoral resilience and competitiveness

Several web articles looked at CAP tools which can support food production (and producers), including income support and sectoral interventions in the fruit and vegetables sector. Sustainable food systems can also be achieved through mechanisms to prevent food waste and promote quality food through quality policy and food labelling. The best practices in the agri-food supply chain are a source of further inspiration (and the focus of an annual event jointly organised by the European Commission and the EU CAP Network).

Beyond food production, CAP funding can be used to promote digitalisation and rural tourism, which can generate interesting opportunities for mountain development, among others.

Supporting and strengthening environmental protection, biodiversity and climate action

The CAP introduced a new green architecture approach and innovative tools such as eco-schemes. The CAP also promotes water efficiency and creates opportunities for agroforestry development and the protection of genetic resources. Some of our web articles look at very specific topics, such as habitat connectivity and pollinators’ protection, while others look at the intersection of policy actions such as the connection between EU organic policy and agro-ecology’s expansion or the role of agri-food policies for climate mitigation.

Strengthening the socio-economic fabric of rural areas

There is an important social dimension in the CAP that is translated into an emphasis on fairness, with ways to promote gender equality and invest in the next generation. There is increasing attention to supporting the health and well-being of the agricultural workforce and promoting mental health for farmers and farming communities. The CAP allows to strengthen agricultural skills, ensuring that farmers and agricultural workers are well equipped to meet current and future challenges.

LEADER’s potential from a policy perspective is the focus of an article which managed to condense this huge topic into two easily digestible pages.

Keep learning !

Our Policy Insights articles go hand in hand with our thematic work, elaborating further on certain aspects highlighted by the Thematic Groups. These web articles are always rich in hyperlinks and references that allow you to go deeper into the topic. 

To see how the CAP is translated into practice, you can browse our good practice database, which is updated with 200 new CAP-funded projects every year.

Make sure you stay up to date with all the new publications of the EU CAP Network by checking the quarterly round-up of publications and, by subscribing to our monthly newsletter. You may follow @EUCAPNetwork on Facebook, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn.