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Agricultural policy
The day-to-day decisions made by farmers are influenced greatly by UK and European Union agricultural policy. The RSPB campaigns for policies that provide a fair deal for farmers, consumers and wildlife.
We want to see sustainable farming that provides safe, healthy, affordable food, protects and enhances the environment and its wildlife, supports diverse and attractive landscapes and contributes to a thriving rural economy.
Farmland birds are those which rely on farmland for food and nesting sites. We're working to help farmers ensure that as well as providing a sustainable food supply for society, farmland is also able to support birds and other wildlife. More... |  |
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was a significant factor driving the intensification of farming. Created in the 1950s, it aimed to provide farmers in the European Economic Community with a reasonable income and a secure, affordable supply of food to consumers. We want a reformed CAP that uses 'public money for public goods' and delivers real benefits for wildlife and the environment. More... |  |
Agri-environment schemes compensate farmers for the costs of carrying out wildlife friendly management on their farms. A healthy countryside supports diverse wildlife, helps maintain clean water supplies, stores carbon, and provides access to the natural world for everyone. But farmers don’t get paid by the market for providing these services to society. More... |  |
Food is a major economic product of our countryside, but the relationship between the farmer's fields and the food on our plates often gets forgotten. We're calling for policies that deliver environmentally-friendly food production, and for consumers to make choices that support more sustainable farming systems. More... |  |
Over recent decades, farms have become specialised and, in general, can be grouped into farming systems or sectors, depending on what they produce, how they produce it or their geographical location. More... |  |
How can farmers balance the needs of food production and the environment? We're working on a wide range of issues, from pesticides and GM crops to land-use change and bioenergy, to provide ideas to help answer this question. More... |  |
We work on a wide variety of issues relating to farming and agriculture policy. Browse and download the latest agriculture policy documents, including briefings, position statements, reports and newsletters. More... |  |