List of potential AGRICULTURAL
PRACTICES that ECO-SCHEMES
could supportJanuary 2021
#EUGreenDeal

The CAP is instrumental in managing the transition towards a sustainable food system and instrengthening the efforts of European farmers to contribute to the EU’s climate objectives and toprotect the environment. Eco-schemes are a new instrument in the CAP to support this transition.
Member States will set eco-schemes in their CAP strategic plans. The Commission will assess
and approve them as key tools for the CAP to deliver on the Green Deal targets.
This document contributes to the debate, enhances transparency of the process and gives
farmers, administrations, scientists, stakeholders and the public the opportunity to discuss
eco-schemes. This list has been established after a thorough discussion with experts.
Agricultural practices that could be supported by eco-schemes have to meet the following
conditions:they should cover activities related to climate, environment, animalwelfare and antimicrobial resistance;
they shall be defined on the basis of the needs and priorities identified atnational/regional levels;
their level of ambition has to go beyond the requirements
and obligations established under the baseline(including conditionality);
they shall contribute to reaching the EU Green Deal targets.

EU GREEN DEAL TARGETS
Reduce by 50% the overall use
and risk of chemical pesticides
and reduce use by 50% of morehazardous pesticides by 2030

Achieve at least 25% of the EU’s
agricultural land under organic
farming and a significant increasein organic aquaculture by 2030

Reduce sales of antimicrobials forfarmed animals and in aquaculture
by 50% by 2030

Reduce nutrient losses by at least
50% while ensuring no deterioration
in soil fertility; this will reduce use offertilisers by at least 20 % by 2030

Bring back at least 10% of
agricultural area under highdiversity landscape featuresby 2030
CAP Strategic Plans will put into practice enhanced conditionality, eco-schemes, farm advisory
services as well as agri-environmental and climate measures and investments to address theGreen Deal targets, in particular those stemming from the Farm to Fork Strategy and theBiodiversity Strategy for 2030, and to fulfil the climate and environmental specific objectivesof the CAP.

CLIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPESCHANGECARE

CAP SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
SO 4: Contributeto climate change
mitigation andadaptation, as wellas sustainableenergySO 5: Foster

sustainable
development andefficient managementof natural resources
such as water, soil
and air

SO 6: Contributeto the protection ofbiodiversity, enhance
ecosystem services
and preserve habitats
and landscapes

SO 9: Improveanimal welfare
and address
antimicrobial
resistance

AREAS OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE AND ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIONSUNDER THE CAP STRATEGIC PLANS

a.

b.

c.

Climate change mitigation,
including reduction of GHG
emissions from agricultural
practices, as well as maintenanceof existing carbon storesand enhancement of carbon
sequestration
Climate change adaptation,
including actions to improve
resilience of food production
systems, and animal and plant
diversity for stronger resistanceto diseases and climate change
Protection or improvement ofwater quality and reduction ofpressure on water resources

d.
e.

f.
g.

Prevention of soil degradation,soil restoration, improvementof soil fertility and of nutrient
management
Protection of biodiversity,
conservation or restoration ofhabitats or species, including
maintenance and creation oflandscape features or nonproductive areas
Actions for a sustainable andreduced use of pesticides,
particularly pesticides that presenta risk for human healthor environment
Actions to enhance animal
welfare or address antimicrobialresistanceEXAMPLES OF AGRICULTURE PRACTICES
1. PRACTICES ESTABLISHED IN EU POLICY INSTRUMENTS:
Organic farming practices, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (b, c, d, f, g)
Conversion to organic farming (b, c, d, f, g)
Maintenance of organic farming (b, c, d, f, g)
Integrated Pest Management practices, as defined in Sustainable Use Directive (b, c, d, e, f)
and including:Buffer strips with management practices and without pesticide (c, e, f)
Mechanical weed control (c, e, f)
Increased use of resilient, pest-resistant crop varieties and species (b)Land lying fallow with species composition for biodiversity purpose (c, e, f)

2. OTHER PRACTICES:
Agro-ecology including
Crop rotation with leguminous crops (a, b, d, f)
Mixed cropping - multi cropping (b, d, e, f)
Cover crop between tree rows on permanent crops - orchards, vineyards,olive trees - above conditionality (a, c, d, e, f)
Winter soil cover and catch crops above conditionality (a, b, c, d)
Low intensity grass-based livestock system (a, c, d, g)
Use of crops/plant varieties more resilient to climate change (b, c, e, f)
Mixed species/diverse sward of permanent grassland for biodiversity purpose(pollination, birds, game feedstocks) (c, d, e, f)
Improved rice cultivation to decrease methane emissions(e.g. alternate wet and dry techniques) (a)Practices and standards as set under organic farming rules (b, c, d, f)
Husbandry and animal welfare plans including
Feeding plans: suitability of and access to feed and water, feed and water quality analyses(e.g. micotoxines), optimised feed strategies (g)Friendly housing conditions: increased space allowances per animal, improved flooring (e.g.,
straw bedding provided on a daily basis), free farrowing, provision of enriched environment(e.g. rooting for pigs, perching, nest-building materials, etc.), shading/sprinklers/ventilation
to cope with heat stress (b, g)
Practices and standards as set under organic farming rules (g)Practices increasing animal robustness, fertility, longevity and adaptability, e.g. lifespan 		of dairy cows; breeding lower emission animals, promoting genetic diversity and resilience (a, b, g)
Animal health prevention and control plans: overall plan for reducing the risk of infections
that require antimicrobials and covering all relevant husbandry practices, e.g. crawl space
between two rearing belts, vaccination and treatments, enhanced biosecurity, use of feed
additives, etc. (g)Providing access to pastures and increasing grazing period for grazing animals (a, b, g)
Provide and manage regular access to open air areas (g)Agro-forestry including
Establishment and maintenance of landscape features above conditionality (a, c, d, e)Management and cutting plan of landscape features (e, f)
Establishment and maintenance of high-biodiversity silvo-pastoral systems
High nature value (HNV) farming including
Land lying fallow with species composition for biodiversity purpose (pollination, birds, 		game feedstocks, etc.) (c, e, f)
Shepherding on open spaces and between permanent crops, transhumance and commongrazing (b, d, e, f, g)
Semi-natural habitat creation and enhancement (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
Reduction of fertiliser use, low intensity management in arable crops (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
Carbon farming includingConservation agriculture (a, d)Rewetting wetlands/peatlands, paludiculture (a, c, d, e)
Minimum water table level during winter (a, c, d)Appropriate management of residues, i.e. burying of agricultural residues, seedingon residues (a, c, d)Establishment and maintenance of permanent grassland (a, c, d, e, f)
Extensive use of permanent grassland (a, c, d)
Precision farming including
Nutrients management plan, use of innovative approaches to minimise nutrient release,
optimal pH for nutrient uptake, circular agriculture (a, c, d, f)
Precision crop farming to reduce inputs (fertilisers, water, plant protection products) (e, f)
Improving irrigation efficiency (b)Improve nutrient management, including
implementation of nitrates-related measures that go beyond the conditionality obligations(c, d, e,)measures to reduce and prevent water, air and soil pollution from excess nutrients such as
soil sampling if not already obligatory, creation of nutrient traps (c, d, e,)Protecting water resources, including
Managing crop water demand (switching to less water intensive crops, changing planting
dates, optimised irrigation schedules) (b)Other practices beneficial for soil, including
Erosion prevention strips and wind breaks (b, d, e,)Establishment or maintenance of terraces and strip cropping (b, d, e,)Other practices related to GHG emissions
feed additives to decrease emissions from enteric fermentation (a)Improved manure management and storage (a)