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This weblog shares information on key ACP-EU programmes and events
from Brussels relevant to agriculture and rural development in ACP countries.
Date : [26/10/2012]
CTA Brussels Newsletter
Main events in the week
- Main ACP-EU Events for the week of 29/10/2012 to 04/11/2012
- Tackling food waste and losses in the EU
- Commission gathers views on ways to follow-up Rio+20
- FAO Director-General calls for "next big step" in hunger fight
- Awaiting important decisions on climate and the environment
- EU development policy needs joined-up thinking
- ACP's "instrumental" role in trade debate
- Additional funding for displaced people in CAR
- 2015 to be designated European Year of Development
- Climate change and the green growth agenda in the Pacific
- Progress in stopping decline of livestock genetic diversity
- Welcome agreement to prevent biodiversity loss
- EU bioenergy policies increase carbon emissions
- Cyprus Presidency reaches its basic target on fisheries
- Multi-annual Financial Framework: There are no sacred cows
- France: More time for convergence of agricultural subsidies
- Spotlight on trade agendas for ACP-EU Joint Trade meeting
- African leaders stress importance of major ACP summit
- Principles for responsible investment in agriculture
- Agreement on CAP Reform possible before end of the year
- EU biofuels more beneficial to big industry than environment
- EU funded project to help develop aquaculture against hunger
- Nigeria remains EU’s key partner in Africa
- EU/Malawi cooperation to improve agricultural production
- 2011/12: Six Member States have exceeded milk quota
- Ecological foundations supporting food security undermined
- Main ACP-EU Events for the week of 29/10/2012 to 04/11/2012
2012-10-26
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Gender and development, Migration and development, New Technologies, ACP-EU Fisheries, Food Security, Health and Development, Food Policy, ACP-EU Policy, Humanitarian Aid
ACP Group
- 29 – 31 October: ACP Global Debate of Commodities including Mineral Resources
- 31 October – 2 November: Regional Briefing 'Building resilience to climate change in the Pacific islands'
You can also read our newspaper “CTA Brussels Daily” (fed by our Twitter account), follow our new Facebook group CTABrussels and our Twitter account CTABrussels to receive up-to-date information on EU-ACP events.
- Tackling food waste and losses in the EU
2012-10-26
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Food Policy
Up to 50% of food gets wasted in EU households, supermarkets, restaurants and along the food supply chain each year, while 79 million EU citizens live beneath the poverty line and 16 million depend on food aid from charitable institutions. The public hearing organised on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the civil society´s contribution for prevention and reduction of food losses and food waste aimed at stimulating debate and highlight thoughts and ideas from different interested parties.
At the EU level, the reduction and prevention of food waste are important issues in the wider context of food security and resource efficiency. Several speakers made presentation on food waste prevention and reduction, and brought their insight and experiences to the debate. This event is feeding into an on-going EESC own-initiative on food waste and food losses.
Source: CTA
 Further information
Programme
CTA Policy Brief: Going to waste
- Commission gathers views on ways to follow-up Rio+20
2012-10-26
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
The United Nations Rio+20 world summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, aimed to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development. To follow up on the conference, the European Commission wishes to develop specific actions and concrete measures to make sustainable development a reality, within the EU and globally. A public consultation is being held to gather views and ideas. These will be an input to a Communication from the Commission on the follow-up to Rio+20, planned for the first quarter of 2013. The consultation is open until 15 January 2013.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Rio+20 was not just another conference – it was a loud and clear call for action to secure a sustainable future globally, a call for change to improve and sustain our quality of lives by respecting the boundaries of the only planet we share. Rio+20 gave the impulse; it is now in our hands to make sustainable development a reality in every corner of the planet. And we want to engage everyone in the debate on the concrete steps which need to be taken."
Source: European Commission
Read more
Public Consultation
Towards a Global Green Economy
- FAO Director-General calls for "next big step" in hunger fight
2012-10-26
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Food Policy
On 24 October 2012, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva called on international food communities and all players in the global food system to join together in eradicating hunger from the earth "within our lifetimes". Opening the bi-annual Terra Madre conference, organised in Turin by Slow Food International, he said achieving zero hunger would require eliminating food losses and waste. The Director-General said it was time to take "the next big step" in the fight against malnutrition.
Meeting the challenge would mean making all food systems sustainable, enabling smallholders - and especially women - to double their productivity and income, cutting food waste, ensuring people have year-round access to nutritious food, and ending malnutrition in pregnancy and child stunting. Graziano da Silva said that one reason food was wasted was because of "a tendency to excessive consumption in middle and high-income countries".
Source: FAO
Read more
State of Food Security in the World
Briefing 28: Food Waste
- Awaiting important decisions on climate and the environment
2012-10-25
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
Important issues such as the Council Conclusions on Rio+20, the preparation for the Doha Summit on climate change and the draft Regulation for the recycling of ships, are on the EU Environment Ministers agenda for the Council meeting taking place on October 25 in Luxembourg. Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Sofoclis Aletraris, will chair the Environment Council of the EU, which is the first under the Cyprus Presidency.
The ministers are expected to adopt Council Conclusions on the results of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Summit, which took place last June in Rio. The Conclusions regard the evaluation of the results of the Summit, as well as the preparation of European positions for the post-Rio era. The ministers will also discuss the Council Conclusions for the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, which will take place in Doha, from November 26 to December 7. These Conclusions will outline EU’s the position for the Doha Summit.
Source: Cyprus Presidency
Read more
Rio+20
Doha Climate Change Conference
- EU development policy needs joined-up thinking
2012-10-25
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Fisheries, Rural development
The EU must ensure its development policy transcends its current structural weaknesses, is clearly prioritized and not undermined by inconsistencies between trade, agriculture, fisheries and other policies, MEPs said in two resolutions adopted this week. The Parliament also gave its green light for the EU to approve the International Food Assistance Convention.
MEPs broadly supported the Commission's "Agenda for change" communication on the future of EU development policy. They approved plans to concentrate EU aid on the most needy countries, but asked the Commission to negotiate a roadmap for gradually reducing assistance to middle-income ones. They also advocated targeting EU assistance on a limited number of priorities to be identified with the beneficiary countries. Parliament also said an independent think tank should be set up to look at ways to harness the EU's political potential as the world's leading donor of development aid to better effect.
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Agenda for Change
EU's Development Policy
- ACP's "instrumental" role in trade debate
2012-10-25
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
Director-General Pascal Lamy, at the meeting of ACP Ministers of Trade in Brussels on 24 October 2012, said the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) members “is one of the more powerful and influential advocacy and negotiating arms in the WTO”. He urged the ACP to actively participate on five trade fronts: trade facilitation, regional integration, Aid for Trade, global value chains, and non-tariff measures. Pascal Lamy concluded his visit with a series of bilateral meetings with a number of ACP delegations.
Source: ACP Secretariat
Read more
Full speech
Aid for trade
- Additional funding for displaced people in CAR
2012-10-25
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Humanitarian Aid, Food Security
There are more than 65,000 internally displaced people in the Central African Republic (CAR) in urgent need of life-saving assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The on-going conflicts in the country and the wider region, and severe flooding have forced these people to flee their villages and homes.
To provide them with immediate help, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has mobilised new funding of €1.9 million, enabling UNICEF to bring clean water, food, hygiene and sanitation to the most vulnerable people. With the EU aid, UNICEF will be pre-positioning emergency relief supplies in the capital, Bangui, and coordinating with NGO partners in a Rapid Response Mechanism to carry out life-saving interventions.
The estimated number of people to be reached by the Rapid Response Mechanism is 42,500, including 2,500 children aged six to 59 months. These children, and the displaced, refugees, victims of natural disasters or epidemics, as well as other vulnerable groups are also suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
In 2012, the European Commission has already mobilised € 8 million of humanitarian aid in CAR for life-saving interventions, including food aid to internally displaced people, clean water and sanitation, treatment of severe malnutrition, psychosocial and medical support to the victims of violence, as well as financial support to the humanitarian air service.
Source: European Commission
Read more
ECHO in CAR
EEAS and CAR
- 2015 to be designated European Year of Development
2012-10-25
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Health and Development, Migration and development, Gender and development
A report by ALDE MEP Charles Goerens (Democratic Party, Luxembourg) addressing the future of EU development policy was agreed on 23 October 2012 by the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This report is the European Parliament's response to the European Commission’s Agenda for Change: the future of EU development policy. The principles contained in this Agenda for Change will guide the design and implementation of external action instruments (notably the new Development Cooperation Instrument) currently under negotiation under the MFF 2014-2020.
Goerens supports key proposals that go in the direction of "greater effectiveness" and "differentiation". He concluded "In order to bring this debate more into the public domain and prepare a 2015 follow-up agenda, Commissioner Piebalgs backs Parliament's proposal to designate 2015 as the European year of development (EY2015DEV)."
Source: ALDE
Read more
Report
EY2015DEV
- Climate change and the green growth agenda in the Pacific
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment, ACP-EU Fisheries, ACP-EU Trade, Migration and development
Climate change is already disproportionally affecting the islands of the Pacific. Although islanders have done little to contribute to the causes of climate change – less than 0.03% of current global greenhouse gas emissions – they are among the first to be exposed to a range of environmental, social and economic effects.
Most islands are experiencing impacts on community livelihoods, infrastructure, water supply, coastal and forest ecosystems, fisheries, agriculture, and human health. The consequences of sea level rise, sea temperature increases, ocean acidification, altered rainfall patterns, and overall temperature rise will be increasingly felt.
In this context, policy-makers, researchers, civil society groups, and development partners will gather in Port Vila, Vanuatu next week (31 October – 2 November 2012) to address these issues in a special briefing session organized by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development (CTA), in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu, with the support of the Embassy of Vanuatu to the EU and the ACP, and Pacific Group of Ambassadors.
The Briefing will feed into the 1st ACP Council of Ministers on Climate Change to be held in Brussels from 7 to 9 November 2012. It will also contribute to the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol taking place 26 November to 7 December 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.
Source: CTA
Read more
Small Island Economies
 Press_Release.pdf
- Progress in stopping decline of livestock genetic diversity
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Rural development
While many countries are taking action to halt the erosion of livestock genetic resources, crucial for food and agriculture, a substantial gap remains that needs to be urgently addressed. Reports from 80 countries on the progress made in implementing the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources were presented on today at the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (24-26 October). Representatives from almost 100 countries are attending the conference to review the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources. The Plan was adopted in 2007 with the objective of improving the management of the world's livestock biodiversity.
The reports show that governments are beginning to put programmes into place to reverse the alarming decline in the numbers of indigenous livestock breeds. According to the latest available figures, about 22 percent of the world's livestock breeds are still classified as being at risk of extinction, although breed population figures are often unreported or out of date, making the true state of livestock diversity difficult to estimate.
Despite the generally limited amount of progress made in developing regions, the country reports indicate that some examples of more active implementation can be found in every region of the world. Reporting countries from Asia are relatively well advanced in establishing conservation schemes for their threatened breeds. In Africa and Latin America, pockets of national success are reported in almost all the priority areas of the Global Plan of Action.
Source: FAO
Read more
Global Plan of Action
Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- Welcome agreement to prevent biodiversity loss
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
The Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus and chair of the Environment Council of the EU, Mr Sofoclis Aletraris, and the Environment Commissioner of the EU, Mr Janez Potočnik, have welcomed the agreement achieved on the results of the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in a joint statement after the conclusion of COP11.
The EU is the world's largest donor of funds for biodiversity protection and is particularly pleased that the contentious issue of resource mobilisation has been resolved in a way acceptable to all parties. Biodiversity loss is one of the most serious issues facing the world today. The protection of ecosystems, habitats and species is of utmost importance for future generations. This is why the EU and its Member States together, in spite of current economic and financial difficulties, are fully committed to an agreement in Hyderabad, which would allow the goals decided in Nagoya to be achieved.
Source: Cyprus Presidency
Read more
Press Release
Imperative need to apply Convention
- EU bioenergy policies increase carbon emissions
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
Bioenergy made up over two thirds of the EU’s primary renewable energy production in 2009, according to Eurostat, and will account for more than half of EU states emissions reductions planned for 2020, according to their National Renewable Energy Action Plans. But a literature review conducted by the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) concludes that, according to best known science, “the use of roundwood [trees] from forests for bioenergy purposes would cause an actual increase in GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions compared to fossil fuels in the short term”.
This is because burning a tree to produce bioenergy - in the form of wood pellets or chips – releases all the carbon that the tree has absorbed in its lifetime. It also reduces the carbon sink able to absorb new carbon, at least until it has been replenished by an equivalent carbon absorbing stock. In the interim, a ‘carbon debt’ is created, with more emissions being created than are reduced by bioenergy use.
The EU report duly finds that “with a proper accounting, roundwood bioenergy would not contribute to short term policy objectives such as the EU 2020 targets, although the use of wastes and residues could make a sizeable contribution”. Such conclusions echo a paper by the European Environment Agency last year, and raise questions as to whether unaccounted bioenergy should continue to count towards EU renewable targets.
Source: EurActiv
Read more
Bioenergy-National Biomass Action Plans
Indirect Land Use Change
- Cyprus Presidency reaches its basic target on fisheries
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Fisheries
EU Fisheries Ministers took another firm step towards the Common Fisheries policy (CFP) reform today, as they reached a partial general approach for the Legislative proposal for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020. Taking into account the agreement during the first day of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea in 2013, the results of the Council in the fisheries sector are evaluated as being very positive.
The compromise text by the Presidency is thought to have significantly contributed to achieving the partial general approach, which is a partial agreement reached on a legislative act prior to the outcome of the debate on the financial perspective, for the Commission’s proposal on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. An agreement was reached on a major part of the EMFF proposal after intensive but productive discussions on the outstanding issues an agreement has been reached on the major part of the EMFF proposal. The discussion focused among others on the main outstanding issues, related to the measures for restructuring of the fleet and market measures, such as processing and storage aid. The agreement on the Fisheries Fund includes all the measures and acts that are necessary for a successful, reformed new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Source: Cyprus Presidency
Read more
European Fisheries Fund
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
- Multi-annual Financial Framework: There are no sacred cows
2012-10-24
The European Parliament meeting during the Strasbourg plenary session has expressed concern about the progress of negotiations in the Council on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2014-2020). The European Parliament understands that given the current financial context, expenditure must be stabilised, but it refuses to freeze all prospects for the coming seven years and insists on reassessing the situation during the course of the next MFF. Moreover, in their resolution MEPs stress that they can not give their approval to the limited budget if it is not accompanied by a reform of the own resources system. During the debate, the Liberal and Democrat speakers argued that it was necessary to do away with taboos and other sacred cows.
Source: ALDE
Read more
Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020
MEPs on EU's long-term budget
- France: More time for convergence of agricultural subsidies
2012-10-24
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Aid effectiveness
The European Commission seeks to end aid per hectare based on the level of production from the 1990s. The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Cioloș, has also called for the convergence of regional and national subsidies by 2020, in order to avoid destabilising effects on producers.
At the Council of Ministers of Agriculture on 22 October, France’s Minister of Agriculture, Stéphane Le Foll, agreed with the Commissioner, but asked for flexibility and more time, stating that 2019-2020 would be too soon to achieve full convergence. Italy, Spain, Austria, Ireland and Belgium supported his statement. The Eastern European countries, on the other hand, seek to speed up the process to avoid continued disadvantages.
Source: EurActiv.fr
Read more [FR]
Agriculture and Fisheries Council
EU farm policy
- Spotlight on trade agendas for ACP-EU Joint Trade meeting
2012-10-23
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy
Senior officials and Ministers for Trade from ACP governments convene in Brussels this week to tackle crucial issues regarding trade relations between their countries and the European Union. The series of high level meetings culminates with the annual ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee this Friday (26 October 2012).
Opening the meeting on 22 October 2012, ACP Secretary General Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas outlined four main agenda items for Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Trade to discuss, before setting recommendations for their ministers to consider later in the week. Key issues include the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU; EU trade policies and how they affect ACP countries – particularly the EU’s Communication on Trade, Growth and Development; the WTO process; and trade capacity building projects. Obstacles to trade, such as non-tariff barriers or the erosion of EU preferences arising from favours granted to third countries will also be up for discussion.
Two days of discussions at the senior official level will provide a basis for the ACP Trade Ministerial meetings later in the week. WTO’s Director General of Trade Mr. Pascal Lamy will address the ministers after the opening ceremony on Wednesday. Finally, the ACP ministers will meet with EU counterparts on Friday at the 11th Joint Ministerial Trade Committee meeting.
Source: ACP Press
Read more
Opening remarks by the Secretary-General
ACP-EU Joint Institutions
- African leaders stress importance of major ACP summit
2012-10-23
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Environment, ACP-EU Policy, ACP-EU Trade
Three presidential visits to the Secretariat for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) in Brussels during the week of 15 - 19 October 2012 highlighted the commitment of ACP member states to reviewing the outlook of the Group, and its role in promoting development amongst its members. The theme The Future of the ACP Group in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities is set to guide talks at the upcoming 7th Summit for ACP Heads of State and Government, scheduled for 13-14 December in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The President of Benin and President-In-Office of the African Union, H.E Yayi Boni told the ACP Committee of Ambassadors that the Group was at a “crossroads”. He added that in a world marked by globalisation, the world financial crisis, changing aid modalities and the appearance of new emerging actors, ACP states need to reposition themselves to better face new social and economic risks such as food security, peace and stability, and climate change. The President of Senegal H.E Macky Sall told ACP Ambassadors that economic and social development was a central concern. Gabonese Head of State H.E Ali Bongo Ondimba called for solidarity amongst ACP members.
The three Chiefs of State were in Brussels last week to attend the European Development Days events. Each paid a special visit to the ACP House to update ACP representatives on developments in their countries. The leaders all underlined the importance of concluding Economic Partnership Agreements with Europe that were fair and development-friendly.
The 7th Summit in Malabo, Equatoriale Guinea (13-14 December 2012) will be preceded by the ACP Council of Ministers meeting and a meeting for ACP Ministers of Foreign Affairs (10-12 December). The last ACP Summit for Heads of State and Government was held in Accra, Ghana in 2008.
Source: ACP Press
Read more
ACP Council of Ministers
ACP-EU cooperation
- Principles for responsible investment in agriculture
2012-10-23
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Food Policy, Rural development, ACP-EU Fisheries
A two-year consultation process to develop principles for responsible investment in agriculture that respect rights, livelihoods and resources was approved by the 39th Session of the Committee on World Security (CFS), which ended on 20 October 2012 at FAO headquarters. Consultations will be carried out at global and regional levels under the auspices of CFS.
The principles should be seen as complementary to the "Voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security" endorsed by CFS in May this year after inclusive and participatory negotiations. They will build on existing frameworks and guidelines, and not duplicate work by others.
FAO estimates that the investments required in developing countries to support the required expansion in agricultural output to meet projected demand in 2050 amount to an average net annual investment of $83 billion. This total includes investment needs in primary agriculture and necessary downstream services such as storage and processing facilities. This represents an increase of about 50 percent a year over current levels.
Source: FAO
Read more
Committee on World Food Security
Voluntary Guidelines
- Agreement on CAP Reform possible before end of the year
2012-10-23
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, ACP-EU Policy
With the focus on reaching a partial general approach on the CAP Reform before the end of the year, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council continued the discussions on the reform proposals. On the first day of the AGRI-FISH Council in Luxembourg (22 October 2012), the Agriculture Ministers of the EU examined the Regulation proposal on direct payments, over two round table discussions. During the first round, the issue of internal approach on direct payments was debated, for which the European Commission suggests that Member States must achieve an even level of direct payments at a regional level by 2019.
During the second round table discussion, the plan to support younger farmers through the first pillar was examined. The majority of the Member states highlighted the need for flexibility in supporting younger farmers, in order to increase the small number of farmers in the EU in the near future. Additionally, a large number of Member States are in favour of the creation of a volunteer scheme, within the context of the first pillar, in parallel with the voluntary character of the second pillar.
The proposed Regulation for market organisation on agricultural products was also discussed. The ministers examined the obligatory recognition of Producer Associations and Producer Organisations. On the issue of competitiveness rules, different views were expressed regarding the possibility of the existence of a dominant position in the market.
The chair of the AGRI-FISH Council concluded: “Today’s meeting was very important because, according to the results of our discussions, the AGRI-FISH Council is expected to reach a partial general agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy before the end of the year”.
Source: Cyprus Presidency
Read more
Preparation Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Press Release: AGRI-FISH Council
- EU biofuels more beneficial to big industry than environment
2012-10-23
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
In the EU, the biofuels industry serves to enrich the large industrial groups more than the environment, according to a recent study published by the International Journal of Environment and Health. Because of the emphasis placed on first-generation biofuels in the EU’s policies, Simone Vierri of the University “La Sapienza” of Rome argues that the inputs for a 10% blend by 2020 will be unsustainable using corn, soy, and sugarcane – this will force many countries to import a great deal of their raw materials. Instead, Vieri insists that policy aimed at promoting advanced biofuels made from biomass and waste would be much more beneficial for the environment.
Source: Checkbiotech.org
Read more
Biofuels and other renewable energy
Commission proposes cap on biofuels production
- EU funded project to help develop aquaculture against hunger
2012-10-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Fisheries, Food Security
A new 3-year project, 'Aquaculture for Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and Nutrition' (AFSPAN), funded by the EU and managed by the FAO, in collaboration with an alliance composed of 20 development agencies, governments and universities, aims to promote aquaculture as an instrument to combat hunger. The initiative, which includes partners from ACP countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Zambia, has the objective of helping such low-income countries with a food deficit in developing sustainable aquaculture policies.
Although aquaculture already makes major contributions in these countries, with many small-scale aquaculture farms involved and a certain capacity to trade fish and fishery products, little information is available concerning the direct and indirect impacts on food security and poverty alleviation.
The project will help to develop new and more rigorous methodologies to quantify the impacts of aquaculture on food security and poverty alleviation, with more systematic quantitative assessments. The results of the project will be presented to countries and their development partners, in particular the EU, in order to improve strategies, planning and coordination of initiatives focusing on aquaculture as a tool to promote food security and poverty alleviation.
Source: Agritrade
Read more
AFSPAN
EC Catalogue of marine-related projects
- Nigeria remains EU’s key partner in Africa
2012-10-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy
Ambassador David MacRae, Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, recently described the direction of existing and future frameworks of partnerships with Nigeria and ECOWAS. MacRae and his team explained and defended the strategies behind the EU’s business, trade and investments in Nigeria and ECOWAS sub-region as well as details of mutual developmental engagements and partnerships dating back to 1976.
The EU’s support in Nigeria has focused on three strategic areas: peace and security, governance and human rights, trade and regional integration, with €677 million earmarked for the period of 2009 to 2013 and financed through the European Development Fund. This represents the largest allocation granted to an ACP country by the EU and makes the EU the biggest donor to Nigeria.
The EU is committed to the negotiations of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the West Africa Region, and Nigeria within ECOWAS, and considers the EPA a development tool to reinforce regional integration process, to foster growth and development.
On the future of EU’s multilateral engagements in Nigeria, the EU delegation revealed that the union seeks to blend grants with loans, especially from development banks, improve its institutional engagements with its stakeholders in Nigeria and ECOWAS as well as impact the people under its Energy For All programme.
Source: The Guardian Nigeria
Read more
EPA: EU-Nigeria
Negotiations and agreements ACP-EU
- EU/Malawi cooperation to improve agricultural production
2012-10-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Rural development
On 17 October 2012, EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, and the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, signed two agreements that will help Malawi reach the Millennium Development Goals. The EU will contribute to a new government programme designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and expand the area under irrigation. With this programme, Malawi aims to increase its maize yield by two thirds and almost double household incomes in agriculture. This will contribute to the goal of 6% of annual growth in Malawi.
A second EU contribution will fund cash transfers to extremely poor households to help them out of poverty and hunger. It will make families more resistant to shocks like high food prices, but also improve school enrolment and health. This EU support is expected to provide benefits to a total of 83,000 households.
The EU will support two interlinked government initiatives (€63 million). On the one hand, the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) intends to increase productivity, especially of small farmers. Among other things, it will provide maize and legume seeds at reduced prices and fight land degradation. The second initiative supports irrigation, by giving farmers better access to irrigated agriculture and by developing medium and large scale irrigation schemes. Such measures will make farmers less dependent on rain falls for growing their crops so they can move from one harvest per year to three annual cropping cycles.
Source: European Commission
Read more
EuropeAid: Social transfers
ASWAp
- 2011/12: Six Member States have exceeded milk quota
2012-10-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Food Policy
Six Member States - Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus and Luxembourg - exceeded their milk quotas in 2011/2012, triggering "superlevy" penalties of about € 79 million, according to Commission figures published on 18 October 2012. Despite the overrun of the quotas in these six Member States, total EU deliveries remained well below the global quota volume (-4.7%). According to national declarations, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus and Luxembourg exceeded their national quotas by a total of 283 000 tons, despite the 1% quota increase in the year 2011/2012 decided in the framework of the 2008 CAP Health Check. The Netherlands also exceeded also its direct sales quota, while the other Member States exceeded only their quota for deliveries.
The number of Member States exceeding their quotas remains limited and the concerned surplus production accounts for less than 0.2% of all milk delivered or covered by direct sales. Several Member States produced far below their respective national quota; 10 Member States recorded deliveries at least 10% below their quota. In the 2010/2011 quota year 2010/2011, penalties worth €55.6m were triggered in 5 Member States and overall EU deliveries were 5.5% below the total EU quota volume.
Source: European Commission
Read more
Milk and milk products
Milk package fully applicable
- Ecological foundations supporting food security undermined
2012-10-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security
The aim of achieving food security across the globe will become increasingly elusive unless countries factor the planet's nature-based services into agricultural and related planning, a report released on 16 October by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) says. Safeguarding the underlying ecological foundations that support food production, including biodiversity, will be central if the world is to feed seven billion inhabitants, climbing to over nine billion by 2050, argues the study ‘Avoiding Future Famines: Strengthening the Ecological Basis of Food Security through Sustainable Food Systems’.
Inefficiencies along the food delivery chain further complicate the challenge, and the report highlights that an estimated one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion tonnes per year. The report aims to increase the focus on these crucial aspects, which are being undermined by overfishing, unsustainable water use, environmentally degrading agricultural practices and other human activities. It also frames the debate in the context of the green economy, calling for food production and consumption practices that ensure productivity without undermining ecosystem services.
Source: UNEP
Read more
Press Release & Executive Summary
Addressing food waste in times of crisis
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Ms Isolina BOTO
Head
CTA Brussels Office
39 rue Montoyer
1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 2 513 74 36 (direct); Fax +32 (0) 2 511 38 68
E-mail: boto@cta.int
Website: http://www.cta.int/
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Editor: Ronalee Biasca (biasca@cta.int)
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Copyright © 2011 Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU. Email:cta@cta.int
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