CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27 to fight antimicrobial resistance in animals

The European Commission put into force, by 1st January 2023, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-27. The new CAP 2023-27 will ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for EU countries to adapt measures to local conditions. The new CAP 2023-27 is consistent with the EU legislations and the commitments of the Farm to Fork and biodiversity strategies for the climate and the environment.

EU countries, at national level, produced a thorough analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats-SWOT) of their territory and agri-food sector and submitted their CAP Strategic Plans until 31st December 2021. The Commission supported and assisted each EU country with tailor-made recommendations by identifying the key areas on which each EU country should focus on their national CAP Strategic Plan.

10 Key objectives of CAP 2023-27

Image credits: (C) CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27

How CAP 2023-27 will contribute to the combat against antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance has a direct impact on human and animal health. There is an evidence that antimicrobial resistance is transmitted to humans through overuse of antimicrobials in animals. The World Health Organization called antimicrobial resistance “an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires action across all government sectors and society”. [1]

In order to achieve the Farm to Fork objective of 50% sales reduction of antimicrobials in animals by 2030, EU countries set up, in their dedicated CAP Strategic Plans, measures to reduce antimicrobial resistance in animals and increase animal health and welfare. These measures are highly connected with the key challenges of the EU agriculture for safe, nutritious and sustainable food, reductions in food waste, and improvements to animal health and welfare.

Farm to Fork strategy objectives

Image credits: (C) Farm to Fork strategy

For the CAP 2023-27, farmers will receive a total funding of €6.3 billion for measures to reduce the need to treat animals with antimicrobials. Those measures mainly involve the development of newly built or renovated fam housing systems to improve the animals welfare, rural development measures such as animal welfare labelling schemes or radication programmes for animal diseases. [2]

Financial support to farmers will also be allocated to organic farming for better animal welfare. The support of the current Common Agricultural Policy for organic farming will reach 10% (5.6% in 2020).

Research programme Horizon Europe will also contribute towards improved animal health and welfare.  A European Partnership on animal health and welfare will be launched this year. he total indicative EU contribution for the full duration of the partnership is €180 million euro. In line with the European Green Deal, this partnership will contribute to reduction of antimicrobial usage and improvement of animal welfare, as part of its priorities towards fair, healthy and resilient animal production systems, according to to the objectives and targets of the new Common Agricultural Policy and the EU Farm to Fork strategy.

References

[1]  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en

[2] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/cap-my-country/cap-strategic-plans_en