OPERA, through its Brussels Office, has organized an event to launch of the report of a new study: “EU agricultural production and trade: Can more production efficiency prevent increasing ‘land-grabbing’ outside of Europe?” [*] The study has been presented by Prof. Harald von Witzke – Humboldt University Berlin.

The event organized on the evening of the 11^th of May 2010 had presented for the consideration of the decision maker facts and figures about the reality of the agricultural trade of the EU with third countries. More specifically, in the study conducted by prof. Harald von Witzke, this trade was accounted for, as surface of land traded by the EU to ensure that the demand on the internal market is satisfied. The traded commodity balance is translated in the corresponding number of hectares necessary for the production of the respective commodities.

A high-level panel discussion took place after the presentation of the study. The debate touched upon the findings and conclusions of the study and their potential implications for the future Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

[*] The study was developed, at the request of a number of stakeholders from the agri-food sector, to provide a scientific evaluation and policy recommendations on the subject. The paper has also benefited from the sponsorship of Bayer CropScience and Syngenta.

Press Release
Presentation
Summary of the panel debate