Practice Abstract 46 - UNIBO Analysis of relevant policy instruments and their effects on legume cultivation in EU

Short title (native language): 
UNIBO Analysis of relevant policy instruments and their effects on legume cultivation in EU

Short summary for practitioners (native language): 
To incentivize European legume production, different EU and national policies have been introduced including CAP measures and others such as Environmental, Food, Health and Energy policies: Member States (MS) can provide payments coupled with the cultivation of legume crops, cultivate legume crops within Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs), or provide subsidies for agro-ecological schemes including cultivated legumes. The study reviewed policies affecting legumes and analyzed their impact. Seven national workshops were held to gather expert views on the influence of current EU and national level policies. Analysis provided an understanding of contexts within which legume related policies were designed and implemented. The EU policy environment for agriculture is complex, comprising a mix of regulatory, advice and incentive interventions. Implementation is on a common basis but with some flexibility both between and within MSs. CAP Pillar 1 Greening , an EU level policy, was seen to have a positive impact on the volume of legumes produced in each MS. The policy dependent nature of this also implies that gains made would largely be lost if the policy instrument were to be removed. Dependency on public funding is unsustainable demonstrating the need to consider the effectiveness of the overall policy framework for increasing legume production - area, yield and market development - at both an EU and MS level. The results highlight the need for explicit policies for research and innovation in the sector. They also raised the issue of the impact of contradictory policy interactions, and a lack of understanding of the wider opportunities associated with legume production (i.e. the eco-systemic role legume crops play for humanity and the environment).