2027年后共同农业政策框架下农业环境与气候行动的最佳实践 Best practices for agri-environmental and climate actions within the CAP post-2027

European

commission

Agricultureandruraldevelopment

Bestpractices

foragri-environmental

andclimateactionswithintheCAPpost-2027

LessonslearntfromcurrentCAPstrategicplans

April2026

Contents

Introduction 2

Highlights:Bestpracticesfordesigningeffectiveagri-environmentalandclimateactionsintheCAPpost-2027 5

LessonslearntundertheCAPstrategicplans 7

Effectivenessofarea-basedactionsforenvironmentandclimate 8

Annualversusmultiannualcommitments 11

Tailoringandtargetingactionstospecificcontexts 12

Result-basedschemes 13

Collectiveactionsforalandscape-levelapproach 15

Monitoringandcontrollability 16

Environmental,climateandanimalwelfareobjectives:challenges,goodpracticesandrelevantinterventions 18

Climateadaptationandwaterresilience 19

Climatechangemitigation(includingcarbonremovals) 21

Soilhealth 24

Biodiversitypreservation 27

Developingorganicfarming 31

Waterquality–nutrientmanagement 31

Animalhealthandwelfare 33

2

Introduction

ThisreportprovidesasetofbestpracticestoMemberStatestohelpthemdesignagri-environmentalandclimateactionsundertheagriculturalchapterofthefuturenationalandregionalpartnershipplansfortheperiod2028-2034.Withthisreport,weaim:(i)forbetteroutcomesinimprovingfarmingpracticesand

productionsystems;and(ii)tofostergreaterfarmer’engagementintoagri-environmentalandclimate

actionsacrosstheEU.The2028-2034CAPprogrammingperiodwillbeinfluencedbybothexpectedbudgetpressuresandrecentlegislativechanges.Thiswillmakeitallthemorenecessarytodevelopeffectiveandmoretargetedagri-environmentalandclimateactionstomakethemostofthefinancialresourcesavailable.ItisalsoimportantthatMemberStatesachieveabalancebetweenenvironmental

effectiveness,simplificationandeaseofmonitoring.

Thisreportsummarisesthemainlessonslearntonarea-basedsupportundercurrentthecommon

agriculturalpolicy(CAP)programmingperiod2023-2027includingitsconception,implementation,

monitorabilityandcontrollability.Italsooutlineschallenges,goodpracticesandrelevantexamplesofcurrentinterventionswithinCAPstrategicplansaddressingtheenvironmentalandpriorityareassetoutinthe

proposalforaCAPregulationfortheperiod2028-2034.ThesebestpracticescomplementtheCAPnationalrecommendationsthattheCommissionwillpreparetoprovideguidancetoMemberStatesonachievingtheCAPspecificobjectivessetoutintheCommissionproposalsforthe2028-2034CAPandNRPlegal

framework.

EnvironmentallysustainablefarmingremainsakeyobjectivefortheCAPpost-2027,sincethe

agriculturalsectorneedstobecomemoreresilientandbetteradaptedtoclimate,environmentalandsocialchallenges,whileremainingcompetitiveinaglobalcontext.SustainablefarmingpracticesarealsocrucialforensuringproductivitypotentialandcapacityacrosstheEUwhileachievingmanyoftheEU’senvironmental

andclimateobjectives.Thereisacriticalneedtoprovideincentivesforfarmerstosupportthemtocarryoutsustainablepracticesandproductionsystems.Strengtheningactionsontheenvironmentandclimatewill

benefitEUcitizensingeneralandfarmersinparticularinviewofthechallengesahead.Environmentally

friendlypracticesandfarmingsystemsarethebestdefenceagainstclimaticchangesandrisingshortagesofresources(suchaswater,fertilesoilsandpollinators).

TheCAPplaysacrucialroleinboth:(i)drivingresilientandsustainablefarmingpracticesandfarming

systems;and(ii)improvinganimalhealthandanimalwelfare.WithitsCAPandNationalandRegional

Partnership(NRP)legislativeproposals

1

,theCommissionaimstoimprovepolicyonenvironmentaland

climateactioninanintegratedwayalsoandinlinewithspecificitiesontheground.TheCommissionhas

proposedasimplifiedandmoreflexibleframeworkfortheCAP(Figure2),relyingon:(i)anewfarm

stewardshipsystem(includingacommonsetofprotectivepracticesandexistingstatutorymanagement

requirements,SMRs);(ii)anewmeasureknownasagri-environmentalandclimateactions(AECAs)thatmergethecurrenteco-schemesandagri-environmentalandclimatecommitments(AECCs);(iii)supportforgreeninvestments(thatcanbeproductiveandnon-productive)thatplayakeyroleinmakingtheuseofnaturalresourcesmoreefficientwhilemakingfarmsmorecompetitive;and(iv)asetofcomplementary

toolstosupportfarmersinthegreentransitionandhelpthemmovetowardshigher-welfarelivestock

1COM(560)2025Finalof16.7.2025-ProposalforaRegulationoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilestablishingthe

conditionsfortheimplementationoftheUnionsupporttotheCommonAgriculturePolicyfortheperiodfrom2028to2034and

COM(565)2025Finalof16.7.2025-ProposalforaRegulationoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilestablishingtheEuropeanFundforeconomic,socialandterritorialcohesion,agricultureandrural,fisheriesandmaritime,prosperityandsecurityfortheperiod

2028-2034andamendingRegulation(EU)2023/955andRegulation(EU,Euratom)2024/2509.

3

systemsbyimprovingfarmers’knowledge,providingqualifiedadvisoryservices,encouraginginnovationanddigitalisation,andlaunchingcooperationprojects

2

.

TheAECAsinvolveincentivesupporttofarmerswhowishtoboth:(i)maintainandadoptpracticesbeneficialfortheenvironmentandtheclimate;and(ii)shiſttowardsmoreenvironmentallyfriendlyandresilient

productionsystems.ThepaymentsbytheAECAsdon’tneedanymoretobecorrelatedwiththeadditional

costsandincomeforegoneofthecommitments,thuspavingthewayforrewardingtheenvironmental

services,providedthatthesepaymentsarecompliantwiththeWorldTradeOrganization‘GreenBox’rules

3

.ProvidingincentivepaymentscouldmakeAECAsmoreattractiveandincreasefarmers’participation.

Movingfromcompensationtoincentivesisanimportantshiſtinpolicythatmakesitpossibletograntincomesupportforenvironmentalaction.TheAECAsshouldalsoincludesupportfortransitionoffarming

systemstoencouragefarmerstoengageintransformativechangesatfarmleveltowardsmoreresilientandsustainableproductionsystems.TheproposedlegalframeworkforAECAsleavessignificantleewaytoMemberStatestodecideon:(i)thefarmingsystemstosupport;(ii)theoveralldesign,contentand

durationoftheseactions;and(iii)thebudgetallocationandthepaymentsthemselves.AECAswillbeco-

financedbyMemberStateswithaminimumnationalcontributionofatleast30%.Examplesoffarming

systemsthatcanbepromotedbytheAECAsare:organicfarming,agroecology,low-inputfarming(

e.g.zero

-pesticides),agro-forestry,regenerativeagriculture,extensivelivestockgrazingsystems,orotherfarming

systemsthatreceivenationalcertifications.

AlthoughtheCommissionhasnotproposedaminimumbudgetallocationforenvironmental,climateand

animalwelfareobjectives(ring-fencing),theCAPwillsignificantlycontributetothetargetthat43%ofthespendingintheNRPplansshouldbeonenvironmentandclimateobjectives.Sincethebeginningoftheprogrammingperioduntilfinancialyear2025,paymentsforbotheco-schemesandAECCsaccountedonaveragefornearly28%oftotalEUpublicfundingundertheCAPstrategicplans(CSPs).Intermsofarea

coverage,inclaimyear2024eco-schemesandAECCswereimplementedonnearly61%(98,3millionha)

and12%ofEUagriculturalarea(19.6millionha)respectively(Figure1).Thisisasignificantoutcomeand

meansthatmanyfarmersarewillingtoengageinmoresustainablepracticesandsystemsprovidedtheyarerewardedfortheeffortsmadeandtheriskstaken.

TheavailabilityofCAPbudgetandthegovernanceoftheNRPplanswilldeterminehowmuchfundingtherewillbeforAECAsintheforthcomingprogrammingperiod2028-2034.Theamountoffundingwillin

turnaffectthetypeofmeasureschosenbyMemberStatesandthebalancebetweenthetwoalternative

land-usestrategiesof‘landsparing’(farmingintensivelyonsmallerareasoflandandleavingtherestofthelandfornaturepurposes)and‘landsharing’(integratingconservationandproductionpurposeswithinthe

samelandscapebyusingenvironmental-friendlypracticesoverawiderarea).Theamountoffundingwill

alsoaffectthebroaderbalancebetweenfoodproduction,ontheonehand,andenvironmentandbiodiversityprotectionbymoreenvironmentallyfriendlypracticesandsystems,ontheother.

Althoughthispaperfocusesonareaandanimal-basedsupport,otherCAPinterventionsarealsoimportanttohelpthesectortoadapttoemergingchallengesandproducemoresustainably.Theseother

interventionsinclude:(i)supportforinvestments;(ii)knowledgesharing;(iii)qualifiedadvisoryservices;(iv)innovation;and(v)cooperationprojects.

2FactsheetEUROPE’SBUDGET:CAPpost-2027:fosteringfarmsustainability,October2025.See

https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common

-agricultural-policy/cap-post-2027-next-eu-budgeten).

3Annex2totheWTOAgreementonagriculturereferstodomesticsupportmeasures(exemptedfromreductioncommitments)thatmeettherequirementofhavingno,oratmostminimal,trade-distortingeffectsorproductioneffects.Thesenon-distortingsupportmeasuresareusuallycalled‘greenbox’,althoughthereisnolinkbetweenthese‘greenbox’measuresandbroader‘green’or

environmentalobjectives.

4

Figure1-Shareofagriculturalareacoveredbyeco-schemesandAECCsinMemberStates(%)-claimyear2024

Figure2–ThecommonCAPtoolboxforsupportingsustainableagricultureinCAP2028-2034

Environmental

andclimate

--irasAgri-

--NewCAP’e--d

toolbox

Mandatory

Gin-Accompanying--ed

support

---ring/

5

Highlights:Bestpracticesfordesigningeffectiveagri-

environmentalandclimateactionsintheCAPpost-2027

Ondesignandimplementation

1.Promoteactionstoadoptbeneficialfarmingpracticesforalltypesoflanduse(arable,grasslands,permanentcrops)maximisingenvironmentalandclimateoutcomestoallowallfarmerswhowishtointroducenewfarmingpracticesandevolvetowardsmoresustainablemodels.Theactionsshouldstriveforadditionalitysothereisatransitionofasignificantnumberoffarmerstowardsmorefuture-proofpractices.

2.Themaintenanceofbeneficialpracticesalreadyperformedbythefarmersthatprovide

environmentalservices(e.g.,organicfarming,extensivegrasslandmanagement)shouldalsoberewardedwherethereisasignificantriskofbeingabandonedintheabsenceofpolicy

support.

3.Offerdedicatedanimalhealthandwelfaresupportschemestohelpfarmersmeetnew

requirementsstemmingfromtheanimalwelfarelegislationreview,particularlythetransitionawayfromconfinedhousingsystems.

4.Supportthetransitiontowardsenvironmentallysustainableandclimateresilientfarmingsystems,suchasnationalcertifiedschemes,organicfarming,regenerative

agricultureandotherholisticfarmapproaches.

5.Setoutattractivepaymentsalignedwitheffortsandrisksrequestedtofarmersandtailoredtoterritorialcontexttoenablefarmers’engagementandtocontributetofarm’sincome.

6.Design“package”actionsencompassingseveralpracticestoreducethefootprintonall

naturalresourcesandbiodiversity.Thisholisticapproachenablessynergiesbetweenpracticesprovidingmoreenvironmentalbenefitsthanthesupporttospecific(andisolated)practices.

7.Designing“whole-farm”point-basedschemesisanoption.Thistypeofschemesallowscoveringalltheholding’area,providesforarangeoffarmingpracticeswithdifferent

demandinglevelandenvironmentalobjectives,andoffersflexibilityandincentivestofarmerstodomore.

8.Strengthenthecapacityofadvisoryservicesforguidingthetransitionoffarmingtowardsmoreinnovative,resilientandsustainablepathways.

9.DevelopcomprehensivestrategiesusingtheCAPtoolbox,suchascombiningpaymentsforNatura2000andWaterFrameworkDirective(whereapplicable),greenandnon-

productiveinvestments,capacitybuildingactions,andcooperationprojects.

10.Ensureactivefarmers’involvementthroughouttheplanningprocessofthefutureagri-environmentalandclimateactionstoensureeffectiveandacceptedactions.

11.Continueplanningmultiannualcommitmentsthatensureenvironmentalimpactandgivescertaintytofarmers,thoughannualcommitmentscouldfitforcertainobjectivesandcan

encouragefarmers’uptake.

12.Targetandtailoractionstospecificterritorialconditions,needs,andfarmcharacteristicswithmoretargetedincentivestofostertheenrolmentoffarmers.Digitaltoolscanhelpto

implementmorespatiallytargetedactions.

13.TackleinameaningfulwaykeyenvironmentalhotspotstheneedsidentifiedinMemberStates.

14.Developresult-basedschemesasthesemakeitpossibletoensureandmeasure

environmentaloutcomesandleavemoreleewaytofarmerstodecidehowbesttoachievetheoutcomes.Theseapproachesincreasethesenseofownershipbyfarmersonactionsandresultsthatcanhelpinimprovingtheiruptake.

15.Developcollectiveactionstopromotelandscapeapproachesforenvironmentalmanagement,particularlybiodiversityconservation,climateadaptationandwater

management.Thecooperationinterventioncanbeusedtosupportpilotprojects.

Onmonitorabilityandcontrollability

16.Defineclear,measurableandmonitorablecommitmentsensuringthattheirverificationisfeasible.

17.Useinnovativetechnologiesforefficientmonitoringandcontroltostreamlineprocessesandreduceadministrativeburden(useofgeotagphotos,digitalfarmbooksorotherdigitaltools).

18.Combinepreventiveanddetectivecontrols.Usesatellitemonitoringwherepossible,

supportedbyadministrativecross-checksandrisk-basedon-siteinspections.Inparallel,

providetimelyfeedbackandguidancetofarmers—forexamplethroughAMSalertsor

advisoryfollow-up—sothatpotentialissuescanbecorrectedearly,reducingerrorsandanypenalties.

19.Integrateadministrativedatasets(inputpurchaserecords,certificationschemes,livestockdatabases,andpaymentsystems)toidentifypotentialinconsistenciesautomatically.

20.Involvetheauthoritiesresponsibleforthecontrolofarea-basedsupport(PayingAgencies)inthedesignofactionstoensurecomplianceandreliabledeliveryofobjectives.

LessonslearntundertheCAPstrategicplans

Thissectionprovidesinsightsintoobstaclesexperienced–andopportunitiesdiscovered–intheimplementationofthecurrenteco-schemesandAECCswithinthe

currentCSPs.Thissectionalsodrawson:both(i)the

workcarriedoutbytheEUCAPnetworkongreen

architecture

4

;and(ii)relevantliteratureandresearchonenvironmentalmainstreamingundertheCAP.

TheanalysisisstructuredaroundkeyfactorsthatcanmakefutureAECAsmorelikelytosucceedinachievingenvironmental,climate,animal-healthandanimal-

welfareoutcomes.Thetopicsaddressedinthissectionare:

1.effectiveness,includinginpractices,uptakebyfarmers,synergiesbetweenpractices,and

incentivepayments;

2.durationofcommitments:annualversusmulti-annual;

3.tailoringandtargetingactionstospecificcontextsandneeds;

4.result-basedschemes;

5.collectiveactionsandlandscape-levelapproaches;

6.monitorabilityandcontrollability.

Foreachtopic,we:(i)outlineanassessmentofthe

issuesatstake;(ii)providerelevantexamplesofcurrenteco-schemesandAECCs;and(iii)identifybestpractices.Dataonimplementationreportedinthetextboxes

referstofinancialyear2024(equivalenttoclaimyear2023forareaandanimal-basedsupport).

ThebestpracticesaredesignapproachesthatcanmakefutureAECAsmoreeffective,adoptedbymorefarms,

andmoreconducivetoachievingsustainable

agriculturalgrowthandincreasedresilience.The

examplesarechosentoillustratewell-designed

interventionsacrossallMemberStatesforeachtopic,althoughthelistisnotexhaustive.

Figure3–Factorsforeffectiveagri-environmentalandclimateactions

4EUCAPnetworkthematicgroupson“Designingandimplementing

effectiveeco-schemesinthenewCSP”and“GreenArchitecture–

designinggreenstrategies”.See

ThematicGroupontheDesignand

ImplementationofEco-schemesinthenewCAPStrategicPlans|EU

CAPNetwork.

7

8

Effectivenessofarea-basedactionsforenvironmentandclimate

Theeffectivenessofarea-basedsupportforenvironmentandclimateobjectivesmainlydependsonthreecriteria

5

:

•whetherthemeasuresareeffectiveonaunitbase(perhectare,peranimal);

•whethertheoverallimplementationlevelofthemeasureissufficienttochangethepracticesinacertainareaandeventuallyleadtochangesinthestateofnaturalresourcesandbiodiversity;

•whetherthepaymentsaresufficientlyrelatedtotheenvironmentaloutputprovidedtoencourage

significantfarmers’engagement.

Effectiveimplementationrequiresalinkbetween:(i)theobjectivespursued;(ii)theactionssupportedandtheplacewheretheseactionsarelocated;(iii)the

durationoftheseactions;and(iv)thefunding

offered.Toimproveeffectiveness,itisoſtennecessarytostrikeabalancebetweentheenvironmentalambitionofanactionandthelikelihoodthattheactionwillbeadoptedbyfarmers.Ingeneral,ahighlevelofparticipationinarea-

basedschemesiskeytoachievingawidespreadeffectandimprovingtheenvironmentinacertainarea.However,

althoughtheparticipationlevelisimportantandthe

practicespromotedbyanactionneedtobepracticableandfeasibleforfarmers,someinterventionsthatreachhigh

levelsofuptakemightalsobeineffectiveduetoinsufficientadditionality(i.e.themeasuressupportedarealready

widelyadoptedorwouldhavebeenundertakenbyfarmersanyway,evenintheabsenceofpublicsupport).Thesamecanbetruefortheoppositesituation,whereactionsthat

arenotwidespreadareneverthelessveryeffective.For

example,tworecentassessmentsbytheEUevaluation

networkofthecontributionoftheCSPs2023-2027

6

to

climate-changemitigationandsoilprotectionshowhow

certainfarmingpractices,althoughnotwidely

implemented,significantlyinfluencetheoverallcontributionestimatebecauseoftheirhighimpactperhectare.In

addition,somewidelyadoptedpracticeswithlowerimpactperhectarehavearelativelysignificantestimatedpotential

5Röder,N.andMatthews,A.–PostEco-schemesaworkinprogress,January2021,NorbertRöderandAlanMatthews–CAPReform.

6

https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/publications/rough-estimates-climate-

change-mitigation-potential-cap-strategic-plans-eu-27-over_en

and

contribution(seesectionsonclimatechangeandsoilhealth).

MostofthecurrentCSPscontainacombinationof‘light

green’and‘darkgreen’interventions.Thedifference

betweenthesetwocategoriesliesin:(i)howdemandingitistoimplementthepractices;and(ii)thedegreeofimpactofthepracticesontheoverallfarmmanagement.‘Dark

green’interventionsencompass–forinstance–changesingrass-mowingdatestoprotectnestingbirds,longcrop

rotations,significantreductionsininputsuse(suchas

pesticidesandcropnutrients),asignificantdecreaseof

livestockdensities,andleavingnon-productiveareas.‘Darkgreen’interventionsareusuallymorecostly.‘Lightgreen’

interventionsaremostlylow-costpracticestodecreasetheenvironmentalfootprintofagriculturewithoutchallengingtheoverallfarmmodelanditsstatusquo.However,thereisnoEUcommonsystemforclassifyingpracticesas‘lightgreen’or‘darkgreen’andwhetherapracticeislightordarkgreendependsonthecontext.

ImplementationofCAParea-basedmeasuresoverthe

yearsshowsthattherearetrade-offsbetween‘high

ambition’and‘highuptake’.Forthisreason,acombinationofactionswithdifferentlevelsofenvironmentallyfriendlypracticesisneededtoreachasignificantshareofboth

farmeruptakeandfarmlandcoverage.Whatmattersis

thattheactionstriggerachangeofpracticesfora

significantnumberofholdingstargetedbythemeasure.Thefocusshouldbeonensuringadditionality,bothto

striveforaperformance-basedapproachandto

appropriatelyrespondtotheenvironmentalandclimatepressuresfacingthesector.

Althoughthemaingoalofagri-environmentalandclimatemeasuresistoincreaseuptakeofthesupportedpractices,itisalsoveryimportanttopreserveanyexisting

beneficialpractices(e.g.maintenanceoforganicfarming,lowstockingdensities,grazingpractices,no-tillageetc.)

andlandusesthatprovideenvironmentalservices

(e.g.agroforestry,permanentgrasslands).Inachanging

environment(ecological,economic,social)thatinduces

changesinpractices,theadditionalityprincipleisnot

oppositetothefundingofmaintainingpracticeswhen

thesearethreatenedbytrendstowardslessfavourable

practices

7

.Preservingtheseexistingbeneficialpracticesand

https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/publications/rough-estimate-soil

-protection-potential-cap-strategic-plans-over-2023-2027-perioden

7CGAAER,Desoutilsfinancierspourlatransitionagroécologique

https://agriculture.gouv.fr/quels-outi

ls-financiers-pour-la-transition-agroecologique-et-la-remuneration-des-services

9

landusespreventsfarmersfromswitchingtomore

intensivemethodsandmodels,whichisanon-goingtrendinmanypartsoftheEU.Understandably,farmerstryto

increaserevenuebycontinuingtheintensivemanagementoftheirlandorfurtherintensifyingtheirproduction.Thisisasituationtypicalinmanyarablefarmingregionsand

high-intensitydairyregionsinwesternandcentralEurope.Thereisalsoakeyriskincertainareasthatfarmerscouldtrytoreducetheircostsanduseoflabourbyabandoninghard-to-manageorlow-productiveareas.Thisthreatof

landabandonmentiswidespreadinmanymountainousandremotegrasslandareas.Hence,sustainablegrassland

managementandgrazingsystemsshouldreceivehighpriorityforsupport.

Grantingattractivepaymentscanhelpfarmersto

participateindemandingactionswithhighenvironmentalimpact,whichcouldotherwisebesidelinedbyeasier

options.Rewardingfarmersforbeneficialpracticesand

ensuringthatpaymentsaretailoredtoregional

conditionsandfarmtypes–inparticulartheopportunitycostsinthemostproductiveareas–arekeytofostering

engagement.Thisisbecausethefarmfeaturestendtoplayamajorroleinadoptiondecisions.FutureuptakeofAECAshingesongrantingpaymentsthatbothappropriatelymatchtheeffortsandriskstakenandcontributetofarmers’

income.

ThecurrentCSPsmakeavailableeco-schemesandAECCswithawiderangeofoveralldesignsandcontent.

Someoftheseinterventionsfocusonone/severalpracticesrelatedtoone/severallanduses.Equally,othereco-

schemesandAECCsincludeabundleofcommitments

madeupofamixofpracticesofvariousdegreesof

ambition,usuallycoveringalllanduses.Insuchcases,

farmersareoſtenaskedtoselectorperformpractices

coveringtheirwholeagriculturalareaand/orachievinga

minimumnumberofpointsunderaspecificscoringsystem.SomeMemberStateshavedevelopedscoringsystems

accordingtowhichindividualpracticesareweightedbasedontheirenvironmentalvalueoraccordingtotheeffort

requiredbythefarmersinvolved.

Thedesignof‘package’actionsencompassingamenuofpracticesaddressingseveralenvironmentalobjectivescanboth:(i)makeitpossibletoimprovesynergiesbetweenpractices;and(ii)reducethenumberofschemesoffered.

Oneoptionisthedesignofwhole-farmschemescoveringalltheholding'areawithaflexiblemenuofpracticesandascoringsystem.Thistypeofscheme:(i)makesitpossibletocaterforpracticeswithdifferentlevelsofadditionality;(ii)providessynergies;and(iii)offersflexibilityandincentivestofarmerstochoosevariouspractices(wheretheycangetmorebydoingmore).Thismodelhasproventobea

successfulapproachinsomecurrenteco-schemes–thoughsomerunningdifficultiesintheinitialphase–andisawayofdeliveringfeweractionsinthefuture.However,theinherentcomplexityofwhole-farmschemesisamong

otherslinkedtothepropermonitoringoftheresultsachieved.

Inthefuture,supportfortransformationalchangesoffarmstowardsmoreenvironmentallyfriendly,

resilientandinnovativesystemsshouldbemorewidelysupportedbytheCAP.Tothisend,theCommissionhasputforwardaproposalforalump-sumtransitionsupportthatcancoverallcapitalandmanagementcostsinvolvedduringthetransitionperiod.

Itisnecessarytosupportfarmerswithskilledfarm

adviserstofostersustainablepracticesandfarming

systems,particularlysothatfarmerscanbenefitfromthetransitionsupportpaymentthatisproposedtobeofferedinthenextCAPperiod.Advisoryservicescanalsohelp

farmerstoavoidunintentionalerrorsintheimplementationofschemes.SomeMemberStateshavedeveloped

innovativewaystoencouragetheuseofqualifiedadvisers(e.g.thevoucherschemeintroducedbytheNetherlandsortheonlineplatformforagro-foodadvisersannouncedbySpain).

Farmers’involvementinthedesignandimplementationofactionsisalsocrucialtoimprovetheiracceptanceanduptake.Greaterengagementoffarmersinactionsand

encouragingfarmerstoplayaroleinco-designingthese

actionscanhelptopromote:(i)theexchangeofexperience;

(ii),learning;and(iii)asenseofownershipthatcanhelpinscalingupbestpractices.

Developingcoherentstrategiescombiningthe

differentCAPtoolscouldbehelpfulforachieving

environmentalandclimateobjectives,suchas:(i)paymentsforNatura2000andcompliancewiththeWater

FrameworkDirective(whereapplicable);(ii)greenandnon-productiveinvestments;(iii)capacitybuildingactions;and(iv)cooperationactions.Combiningthesetoolsinwillhelptopromotesynergiestoachievethelong-term

environmentalandclimaterelatedobjectives.

10

•Developcomprehensivestrategiesbyusing

theCAPtoolbox,suchascombiningpaymentsforNatura2000andWaterFrameworkDirective

(whereapplicable