Subsidy plan that succeeded too well
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy is a vast funding scheme which basically pays farmers to stay in existence. It was originally set up to preserve the social structure of the countryside in France and Germany, where there were many more small farms than could survive in a genuine free market, or were needed to produce food. Britain became part of it with our accession to the EU in 1973.
The CAP became the victim of its own success, as it encouraged farmers to produce far more food than was necessary, and got them used to subsidy and insulated from the reality of world markets. But the trade liberalisation presided over by the World Trade Organisation is now moving towards the phasing out of agricultural subsidies.
The EU has attempted to reform the CAP, but vested interests – not least of farmers – are such that reform has not got very far. The end of direct subsidies, however, is on the horizon, whether farmers like it or not, and only those who can compete in a subsidy-free world will survive.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments