The Gap between Objectives and Measures of RDP Goran Soster Slovenian Rural Development Network / Prlekija Development Agency and Dr. Martina Bavec / University Maribor Nature Conservation and EU Policy for Sustainable Land Management in the New EU Member States Bonn, June, 2007

Content Introduction Thesis Objectives Measures Recent trends Need for parallel measures Conclusions

Introduction  Territory: km2  Borders: Italy (202 km), Austria (324 km), Hungary (88 km), Croatia (546 km), 46 km of coastal line  Geographical macro regions: -alpine (12% of territory), -sub alpine (31%), -subpannonian (23%), -dinaric-karst (26%), -sub Mediterranean (8%)  Inhabitants (1998): Population density: 97.9 inhab./km2  Rural population: 57.3 %

Natura 2000 in Slovenia SPA - 26 areas (22,8 %) SCI areas (31,6 %) TOTAL - 35, 5 % (9 % above 900 m) Government (Ur. l. RS, št. 49/2004)

Introduction to the case OF Nature conservation does not happen only in the protected areas but much broader, especially within the farming: The best examples of sustainable land use and management are given by organic farmers Organic farming is improving the biodiversity within the cultivated land Organic farmers are the most important allies of the nature

Thesis Further development of organic farming depends not only on: agriculture policy and direct payments or access to the market, but also on all other supports for farmers – f.i.: Knowledge - Education possibilities for farmers Information’s - Advisory services New ideas – New solutions – New concepts

Objectives of RDP Action plan for organic farming (OF) in Slovenia until 2015: 15% of all farms should be organic 20% of agriculture land should be in OF 10% of the food in the stores should be from Slovenian OF production

Measures within Axis 1 of RDP Organic Farmers will get few additional points while competing with applications for subsidies in: Investments Young farmers Improving the products from the farms Infrastructure

Measures within Axis 2 of RD for Organic Farming Surface in control acc. to the use Culture - land use Surface (ha) Meadows (227,55 €/ha) Fields (298,07 €/ha) Vineyards (578,92 €/ha) Orchards (237,80 €/ha) Vegetable (487,90 €/ha) Total: No. of farms involved in org.control Axis 2

Recent trends of OF in Slovenia Growth of financial support for OF 2003/2004 didn’t have influence on interest for conversion to OF In spite of continuing payments for OF (axis 1 and axis 2), trends are showing that the measures are not achieving the goals Is Action plan without strong and efficient OF advisory service feasible?

Need for parallel measures to support organic farming organic farming needs strong advisory service lack of knowledge in organic production methods, solving problems in conversion period, delivering quality and safe organic products with all hygienic standards, new marketing strategies for organic products,

Need for wide promotion of organic farming changing opinion about organic farming as in some countries it is still considered as “step back” and not as improvement in nature friendly agriculture practice oriented to the future, establishing new markets for organic products (not only export oriented in new EU members), covering niches in organic farming (organic seeds,…), protection organic farming and organic products against GMO contamination,…

Conclusions If we would like to overcome the gap between “optimistic” objectives and “realistic” measures of RDP it is necessary to re-allocate the direct payments toward sustainable land use/management (from axis 1 to axis 2 and 3) introduce parallel measures to support sustainable agriculture: Advisory service for OF should get substantial push “Good advisory practices” adopted in organic farming in different countries (like regional or specialized “working groups”, farmers are advisors,…) should be spread and used specially in new EU members Promotion and education campaigns

Thanks for your attention! Contact: Goran Soster