What
is the CAP?
Common Agricultural Policy The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
was introduced after the Second World War. Europe wanted to be
self sufficient in its provision of food. The CAP guaranteed farmers
a price for their produce. This protected farmers from cheaper
imports from outside of Europe.
The CAP led
to a huge surplus of food in Europe. Food mountains and lakes
were created. In order to reduce these the EU introduced milk
quotas and set-aside.
As part of
the Milk Quotas farmers are told how much milk they can produce.
If farmers produce more than their quota they are fined.
As part of
the set-aside scheme farmers have to leave 10-15% of their land
uncultivated they are awarded a grant from the EU.
What
has been the the impact of the CAP on the environment?
The CAP has
had a significant impact on the environment ·
- Hedgerows
have been removed to increase field sizes to accommodate larger
machinery and increase yields. This has led to increased soil
erosion and a reduction in wildlife habitats.
- The increased
use of fertilisers and pesticides has caused groundwater supplies
to become contaminated. The increase in levels of nitrates in
streams and rivers has caused the growth of algae and bacteria.
This has reduced oxygen levels in rivers killing fish and insects.
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