1. Development of a joint water and agriculture agenda
Presentation SCG
8 and 9 March 2016

2. Introduction Water is the lifeblood of Agriculture
Farming accounts for around 70% of freshwater used in the world (OECD)
Water management and Agriculture are strongly related

3. Blueprint
The main causes of negative impacts on water status are interlinked:
Climate change
Land use
Economic activities such as
energy production, industry, agriculture and tourism
Urban development and demographic change
Pressure from these causes takes the form of
Pollutant emissions,
Water over-use (water stress),
Physical changes to water bodies
Extreme events such as floods and drought

4. Communication from EC to EP – March 2015
The agricultural sector is the primary source of diffuse pollution.
Some progress in relation to declining mineral fertilisers' consumption.
Still many gaps in the basic measures to address agricultural pressures.
Supplementary measures reported in agriculture are largely voluntary.

5. Meeting Water and Marine Directors Luxembourg – Nov 2015
WD stressed that the work on water and agriculture can only be successful with a full engagement of the agriculture administrations, at Member State and Commission level.
WD welcome the proposal by the future Dutch Presidency to have a discussion at the Amsterdam Water Directors meeting, based on some inspiring presentations on good practice of collaboration between the water and the agriculture communities, with the aim of identifying the issues that may be of interest to work together.

6. (continued)
This will allow enough time to prepare well a first workshop of water and agriculture experts during the second semester of 2016 or first semester of 2017.
The outcome of such workshop would be the basis for discussion at the first joint Water and Agriculture Directors meeting.
WD also stressed that the assessment of the 2nd RBMP should be used to derive issues of common concern which might be addressed in the further dialogue with Agriculture Directors and agriculture stakeholders with a view to preparing the 3rd river basin management cycle.

7. Water management Agriculture Towards a joint agenda Water (re) use
Fertiliser / nutrients
Manure / organic matter
Land use / erosion
Climate change
Legislation / instruments
Funding Circular Economy
Water management
Agriculture

8. Towards a joint agenda When What Who SCG 8-9 March 2016
SCG 8-9 March 2016
Information to SCG: outline and time frame
NL /COM
Mid-March 2016
Letter to WD with questionnaire: input for the agenda.
To be answered within 4 weeks by WD and Agriculture Directors on MS level.
NL/COM MS
SCG 2-3 May 2016
Information to SCG on potential issues, based on results questionnaire

9. Towards a joint agenda When What Who WD 8-9 June 2016
WD 8-9 June 2016
Input: List of potential issues Pitches: good practices Output: Agenda and
roadmap
WD / COM
t.b.d.
Workshop Good practices of collaboration.
(Recommendation for policy development?)
MS, experts
Meeting WD- AGRI Directors
Presidency/ COM

10. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Towards a joint agenda
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION