The future of CAP subsidies and Ireland's food security

Ahead of the budget and ongoing negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has taken the initiative to change the criteria for receiving farm subsidies. The proposal is to restrict payments only to "active farmers" who produce food, and to exclude holdings with a livestock density of less than one livestock unit (LSU) per hectare.

According to the article's author, Dr. Pippa Hackett, depriving tens of thousands of small, part-time, and low-intensity farmers of support is an unfair step. While the average dairy farm income exceeded €150,000 last year, many small landowners produce food without any financial support. Redirecting funds could negatively impact the Irish landscape and natural resources.

The article notes that amid discussions on food security, Ireland faces a heavy reliance on imports: the country brings in over 80% of the vegetables and fruit it consumes, including staples such as potatoes, apples, carrots, and onions, as well as importing about 30% of drinking milk and a significant portion of milling wheat.

To address real challenges of food security, climate change, and rising costs, it is proposed to refocus the direct payments system. In particular, this concerns the integration of horticultural, crop, and livestock enterprises, supporting the use of Irish grain in feed, growing milling wheat, and developing the vegetable-growing sector within the updated CAP policy.