SCIENCE,SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREAND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE E.U.

Enforcing standards (environment, food safety, animal welfare)Steering sustainable rural developmentCompetitive agriculture and agro-industryAdjustment of intervention levelsDecoupling of direct paymentsStrengthening the 2nd pillarLisbon StrategyCAP Reform 2003ObjectivesWTO / Trade liberalisationGlobalisationPublic concernsCross- compliancePolicy measuresCompetitive agriculture and agro-industryReinforcing farmers market orientation and entrepreneurial role

The role of ScienceSustainable agricultural production systems: striking the right balance between competitiveness and the other elements of sustainabilityCompetitive and sustainable agri-food sector: reflecting consumer demands and needs of society on an open world marketKnowledge based agri-economy: providing tools for policy makers and economic decision takers

1. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Areas of RTD interventionEnhancing competitiveness: efficient production methods and/or improved productsSupporting certified production schemesPromoting environmental aspects of sustainabilitySteering sustainable forestryPolicy Measures/ObjectivesDecoupling: EU farmers more market-oriented in their activitiesCross-compliance: Direct payments conditional on environmental, food safety, plant health and animal welfare standards

A. Enhancing agricultural competitiveness Biotechnology and breeding: crops with lower production costs, increased eco-efficiency, greater added valueIntegration of technological developments (information technology, robotics etc) for lower production costs and increased eco-efficiency Diversification and Non-food bio-materials: new or improved biological raw materials, meeting industrial food and non-food requirements, including bio-energyEfficient farming practices: reducing costs and/or offering environmental benefits (low chemical inputs, better crop rotation etc). Efficient animal production systems: improving diagnostic tests, risk assessment, surveillance systems etc. and animal welfare.

B. Supporting Certified Production Schemes Improving crop and animal production systems and processingAssessing the economic, environmental and social impact of Certified Production Schemes Developing anti-fraud control tools, to provide consumers with a guarantee of product authenticity and safety Organic Farming (OF), Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)

C. Promoting Environmental Aspects of Sustainability Agri-environmentTools for evaluating linkages between agriculture and the environment Bio-diversityTools for evaluating the impact of production systems on bio-diversity Conservation methods for indigenous and exotic species

D. Steering Sustainable Forestry Supporting the Community forestry strategyDeveloping the sustainable management and use of forests: conservation, protection and stability of different forest ecosystems; adaptation to climate change etc.Tools for evaluating the role of forestry in rural development and biodiversity.

2. REINFORCING THE COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AGRI-INDUSTRYAreas of RTD interventionA. Competitive agri-food sector: efficient processing technologies; improving quality and safety; developing new high added value products B. Developing non-food industry: improving processes and developing new non-food uses

Policy Measures/ObjectivesLower market supportTrade liberalisationFood safety regulationsEnvironmental regulationsConsumer concerns

A. Competitive agri-food sectorImproving food processing and product quality: integrating several scientific disciplines (e.g. biotechnology, IT, robotics etc) and covering food production, processing, packaging systems and distribution.Enhancing food safety: anticipating risks and tracing sources of contamination (microbial, chemical, allergenic, ).Developing new high added value products: functional and healthy foods, foods for the special needs of particular sections of the population etc.

B. Developing non-food industries Increasing the uses of new and existing bio-materials to replace oil for energy or other industrial uses (detergents, adhesives, lubricants etc)Improving the processing efficiency of bio-products and wastes, to produce biofuels, biopolymers and bulk or fine chemicals

3. KNOWLEDGE BASED AGRI- ECONOMY Areas of RTD interventionTools for economic decision takers and policy makersCAP analysis tools: markets, rural development, sustainability.Tools to analyse world agriculture and trade issues.Tools to steer competitive agri-food industry. Policy Measures/ ObjectivesAchieving CAP reform (sustainable market and rural development).Supporting negotiations in international forums (WTO, Kyoto etc).Integrating the CAP and bio-based industry into the Lisbon strategy.

A. Analysis tools for the CAP

Monitoring and assessment tools for CAP measures: forecasting developments and identifying necessary adjustments.Tools analysing sustainability aspects of the CAP: competitiveness of EU agriculture and integration of environmental, quality and safety concerns. Tools analysing the impact of the institutional framework on the implementation of agricultural policies, including market and production factor constraints (land, capital, labour). Tools analysing the sustainable development of rural areas: conceptual aspects and impact of policy measures; key factors of change (technology transfer and innovation; institutional framework; external drivers of change etc).

B. Analysis tools for world agriculture and tradeAnalysing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers to agricultural products; export regime policies; issues related to trade and intellectual property rights (TRIPs). Building expertise on world agricultural markets: economic data, characteristics, commodity specificities etc. Effects of globalisation on concentration, integration, developing countries and trade. Defining and analysing multifunctionality as a trade policy issue; quantifying externalities.

C. Supporting the competitiveness of agri-food industryGlobal prospective analysis tools for world agriculture: trends and factors likely to lead to changes (technological, political, economic, social, food supply issues etc).Quantitative and qualitative market analysis tools: market sector analysis, including the role of farmers, industry (upstream and downstream), marketing networks, consumers, research and innovation, labelling rules etc.Promoting innovation: ways to improve communication of research results and adoption of new technologies by EU farmers and industry. Socio-economic implications of new technologies: effects of adoption rates and the competitiveness of EU agriculture; consumer perception and the role of the media.