European agriculture stands at a crossroads. Farmers across the EU are under growing pressure from economic uncertainty, political instability, and stricter sustainability requirements. In response, the European Commission has presented a Vision for Agriculture and Food in February which emphasises competitiveness, food security, and simplification.

However, does this vision truly equip European agriculture for a sustainable and resilient future including healthy soils?

A recent scientific analysis suggests otherwise. The study finds that the Commission’s vision focuses heavily on income support and reducing bureaucracy, while overlooking environmental and soil protection. This has implications for the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which is the central policy of the agricultural sector.

To address the shortcomings of the Vision, the researchers propose a greener, performance-based approach to the future CAP, built on three key pillars:

1. Payment for performance – couple national CAP budgets to Member States’ environmental ambition.
2. Results-oriented measures – prioritise tangible environmental impact at farm level.
3. Circular economy principles – enhance the resilience of the sector.

To read the full publication check out our publication section or follow the link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-025-02281-y?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20251029&utm_content=10.1007%2Fs13280-025-02281-y