CarbonSequestrationinEuropeanAgriculturalSoilsby2010-.pptVIP

Carbon Sequestration in European Agricultural Soils by 2010 - Potential, Uncertainties, Policy Impacts? Most promising measures Potential per unit area Factors limiting carbon sequestration Area and resources available Feasible Potential in EU-15 Environmental effects Farm income Policy impacts Policy changes post 1990 Radical changes in the structure of the CAP driven by the 1992 MacSharry reforms and Agenda 2000 From production-based price support to area payments and set-aside A wealth of rural development and agri-environmental policies Policy effects on land use Market support (intervention, import duties) that maintain producer prices Production controls - quota: number of dairy cows declining - set aside: C sequestration, biofuels Direct aid payments (arable area, agri-environment)- change in permanent crop production systems- maintenance of meadows in LFA- forestation of agricultural land Conclusions (1) Policy changes post 1990 have probably had an overall +ve effect on C sequestration But, uncertainties surround the effects of some policies (LFAs, NVZs, organic) and their impacts on farm incomes Policy could contribute further to soil C sequestration in Europe Further research should target policy as well as management options, be geographically explicit and tackle impacts on farm incomes Conclusions (2): Caveats Availability of land and resources / potential Availability of land and resources / potential Availability of land and resources / potential Non-CAP effects Technological change (plant animal breeding) World markets international trade agreements Changing consumer preferences – less meat, shifts from olive to sunflower oil, etc. Opportunity costs of labour, i.e. competition with other sectors Land degradation (e.g. erosion) Irrigation water availability and quality Education and information dissemination * Annette Freibauer [afreib@bgc-jena.mpg.de] Mark D. A. Rounsevell Pete Smith Jan Verhagen UCL Vleeshouwers Verhag