Scientists propose reform of European agroenvironmental measures

An international team of scientists, led by Tomáš Václavík from Palacký University Olomouc, has proposed a fundamental reform of agroenvironmental measures in Europe. The study, published in the journal Trends Open, suggests that current European Union measures often fail to achieve expected biodiversity and natural resource protection goals despite massive public investment.

Findings from the five-year BESTMAP project, funded by the Horizon 2020 program, indicate that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective. Researchers analyzed data from five regions, including South Moravia, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Serbia, using spatial analysis and interviews with farmers.

Key weaknesses identified include poor spatial targeting, where farmers often apply measures to the least productive lands to minimize economic risk, and excessive administrative complexity. The researchers recommend a system that better accounts for local conditions, specific farm types, and the actual environmental impact of individual measures to better support species diversity, water quality, and carbon sequestration.