CIAA policy approach to Sustainable Agriculture

The purpose of the document is to guide and support policy developments and to encourage CIAA activities aimed at making agricultural production more sustainable.

CIAA strongly supports the improvement of mainstream agricultural production conditions with a view to move in the direction of increased sustainability. CIAA and SAI Platform agree on following definition to embrace the issue:

"Sustainable agriculture is a productive, competitive and efficient way to produce agricultural products, while at the same time protecting and improving the natural environment and social and economic conditions of local communities".

Farming systems are the starting point of the food chain and for CIAA, sustainable supply of agricultural materials represents an essential element in the long term health and prosperity of the food and drink industry businesses. The CIAA approach to encourage sustainable agriculture is to support the following principles:

• Secure safe food supplies of adequate quantity and quality by producing crops and animals to meet current and future populations' needs for food and fibers while increasing efficiency of farming activity and making use of innovation.
• Protect and possibly improve the natural environment and resources, by minimising any adverse effects from agricultural activities on soil, water, air and biodiversity, keeping external input requirements as low as possible, optimising the use of renewable resources and caring for animal welfare.
• Strengthening economic viability and competitiveness of farming systems, enabling local communities to protect and improve their livelihood, safeguard their environment and improve their well-being.

Sustainable agriculture is about ensuring a balance between the economic, environmental and social aspects of the farming activity. The concept of sustainable agriculture must be flexible in order to allow for a constant evolution and improvement of the performance of agricultural systems.

The food and drink industry is committed to supporting and stimulating general application of improved practices through partnerships with stakeholders of the supply chains and is involved in numerous projects and initiatives in this area.

In order to pursue this path towards improved agricultural production conditions, agricultural and rural policies should encourage sustainable farming activities following an impact assessment at farm level. They should determine standard requirements and also offer a framework within which private or public initiatives can develop that go beyond regulations as regards farming practices, socio-economic criteria, respect for the environment and animal welfare.

When aiming at moving agricultural systems towards increased sustainability, CIAA considers that there are a number of relevant social, environmental and economic criteria that need to be taken into account. This enclosure outlines, beyond the stated CIAA principles, some more guidelines on how industry considers the different elements of sustainable agriculture.

Economic dimension

Farming systems should tend towards market-orientation and need to be economically profitable to ensure required investment and to improve the farm performances in the long-term.

Appropriate framework conditions are essential for farmers to properly perform their operations. This includes access to required know-how and essential support services such as financing and market information, access to new production methods and techniques and the possibility to operate in an environment providing and enforcing clear rules and regulations.

Sustainable agricultural production and land management should enable viable livelihoods to be made from farming activity, taking account, when appropriate, of payments for public benefits provided.

Social dimension

Sustainable agriculture requires essential social aspects to be incorporated into the concept. Local law and international regulations shall be duly respected. As a minimum, this refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

In addition, working and living conditions for farmers, farm-depending employees and their families, as well as opportunities for developing their skills and capacities, should be improved over time. Freedom of association needs to be respected.

Environmental dimension

Preserving and improving natural resources is a core element of sustainable agriculture. Biological diversity and functioning ecosystems are essential parts of sustainable farming systems. They need both to be preserved or improved when appropriate.

Responsible use of inputs and other cultivation practices shall contribute to conserve and improve soil fertility as well as prevent soil erosion, pollution, salinisation and losses of arable land.

Responsible and limited use of water should be made and inputs should be carefully and adequately used in order to conserve water.

Responsible use of energy should be made, notably to contribute to reducing air pollution and global warming.

Waste should be handled according to the principles of reduction, reuse and recycling, such as to minimise the environmental impacts.

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