The EU’s farming policy is hated – but what comes next may be worse

British critics of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be careful what they wish for, as replacing it with something better after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union would require a lot of things to fall in place. Any solution would involve finding common ground between consumers, farmers, and the environmental movement. It would require the development of new trading links with the EU and the world, and a rethinking of the inner workings of the UK.

This would be a tremendous challenge. And it’s not clear whether the Westminster government and civil service (already overstretched pre-Brexit) would be up to the task.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 03.05.17: Brexit could wipe out Welsh farming, says union (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-could-wipe-out-welsh-farming-says-union/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Ploughing the Wrong Furrow. The costs of agricultural exceptionalism and the precautionary principle http://www.europeansources.info/record/ploughing-the-wrong-furrow-the-costs-of-agricultural-exceptionalism-and-the-precautionary-principle/

ESO: Background information: NFU launches biggest farming consultation for a generation post-Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/nfu-launches-biggest-farming-consultation-for-a-generation-post-brexit/

ESO: Background information: Brexit: A vortex for UK food and farming http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-a-vortex-for-uk-food-and-farming/

Website: FarmBrexit.com http://farmbrexit.com/

NFU: EU Referendum channel https://www.nfuonline.com/news/eu-referendum/

Blog: Common Agricultural Policy (Wyn Grant): Tag: Brexit http://commonagpolicy.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Brexit

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