26 Amendments of Mairead McGUINNESS related to 2010/2112(INI)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas natural disasters can severely undermine global food productionglobal food production can be regularly undermined by a range of factors including the impact of pests and diseases, availability of natural resources and natural disasters, as illustrated in 2010 by the prolonged drought and fires in Russia and the massive floods in Pakistan,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU is the largest net agricultural products importer, and is largely reliant on imports of protein and, oleaginous products and maize for its animal husbandry sector, as well as fruit and vegetables,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the challenge is to produce “more from less”, with an emphasis on sustainable production, due to pressure on natural resources,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas farmers incomes fell dramatically in 2009 after a decade of income stagnation, due largely to difficult market conditions and rising costs of production; with agricultural incomes significantly lower (by an estimated 40pc per working unit) than in the rest of the economy, and income per inhabitant in rural areas is considerably lower (by about 50pc) than in urban areas,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
I d. whereas only 7% of farmers in the EU are under 35 years of age,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I e (new)
Recital I e (new)
I e. whereas farmers receive a steadily decreasing share of the value added generated by the food supply chain, while the share of the food industry has increased; whereas a proper functioning food supply chain is a necessary prerequisite to ensure that farmers obtain a fair return for their produce,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that a strong and sustainable agricultural sector in the European Union and a thriving rural environment are the most important guarantees ofand a thriving rural economy in the European Union are vital components to meeting the food security challenge;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes Europe'sAffirms that the EU has the highest standards of agricultural and food production in the world with a strong emphasis on food safety an, food quality and on safeguarding the environment will ensure that it continues to play a leading role in worldthe environmental sustainability of agriculture;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Further believes that the European Union should guarantee an adequate standard of living for every person andRecognises that guaranteeing an adequate supply of food is an essential component of food security, but also acknowledges that access to food and affordability of food requires attention be given to the provision of adequate standard of living, particularly for those with insufficient economic resources, who are often children, elderly persons, migrants, refugees and unemployed persons;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports the formula Food Security - Nutrition - Quality - Proximity - Innovation - Productivity; believes that in order to achieve this the future CAP should take note of the public expectations that this should be both an agricultural and a food policy;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is conscious of the great challenge climate change poses to achieving food security, especially through an increase in frequency of climatic events, such as droughts, floods, fires and storms; highlights the increasing challenge of global water supplies and its impact on food production; stresses the need to tackle water management issues as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises that energy costs are a key factor in determining the profitability of agriculture; encourages measures to reduce the costs of energy and to foster more consistent support for research and developmentagriculture in the EU is in the main oil dependent and that efforts need to be made to reduce this dependency; recognises that the challenge of moving away from fossils fuels will require developing a new bio-economy; acknowledges the focus in FP7 on the KBBE and urges that this be intensified;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers, however, that the increased drive to develop renewable energy sources and meet the 2020 targets must not affect the food supply; stresses that more attention should be given to second- and third-generation biofuelstake into account the impact on food production and supply; stresses the delicate balance between meeting the food/fuel challenge;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is concerned aboutNotes the level of reliance on imports of proteins and oleaginous products from third countries, which has negative consequences for the animal husbandry sector when price spikes occur; calls on the Commission to propose an action plan to gradually reduce this dependency;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Highlights the problems faced by farmers at times of extreme market and price volatility; draws attention to the difficulties that farmers encounter in attempting to forward plan at times of extreme volatility; urges the Commission to introduce permanent and robust measures to address volatility in agricultural markets as a matter of urgency; believes that this will be a key determinant in ensuring that production is maintained in the European Union;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, however, that global stocks of food are much more limited than in the past, having fallen to a record low of 12 weeks‘' worth of global food reserves during the food crisis of 2007; points out that world food production is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change, and an increasing number of pests and diseases which can cause sudden and unpredictable food shortages;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Reiterates the importance of developing agriculture in the developing world and the importance of allocating an appropriate share of EU ODA to the agriculture sector; regrets that there has been a dramatic reduction in the level of development aid allocated to agriculture since the 1980s and welcomes the recognition of the need to reverse this trend; calls on the Commission to priorities agriculture in its development aid, including assistance to farmers in accessing markets;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. RBelieves that research and innovation are key to meeting the challenge of food security in increasing production using less resources; reaffirms the position set out in its report on the future of the CAP after 2013; reaffirms its commitment to a strong agricultural and rural development policy which ensures food security for all, maintains the vitality of rural Europe, is supportive of innovation, competitiveness and employment, and plays its part in meeting major global challenges, such as climate change;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reaffirms the position set out in its report on the future of the CAP after 2013; reaffirms its commitment to a strong agricultural and rural development policy which ensures food security for all, maintains the vitality of rural Europe, makes agriculture more competitive, is supportive of innovation, competitiveness and employment, and plays its part in meeting major global challenges, such as climate change;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. Stresses that farms play an essential role in ensuring food security; acknowledges that stringent requirements, for example concerning the environment and animal welfare, apply on a permanent basis to food production in the European Union; stresses that farmers must be compensated for these services to society;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Stresses that, with a view to guaranteeing food security and in the context of the EU 2020 Strategy, efficient use of resources and innovation in the field of sustainability must be encouraged in agriculture;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24 c. Draws attention to falling farm incomes in the EU; affirms that decreased incomes due to rising production costs and price volatility impact negatively on farmers ability to maintain production; firmly believes that food security will be compromised if these issues are not sufficiently addressed;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24 d. Highlights that farmers are 'price takers' and not 'price makers'; draws attention to the often unbalanced relationship between producers and retailers; stresses that a proper functioning supply chain is essential to ensure that farmers receive a fair return for their produce; urges the Commission to come forward with tangible and effective proposals to address this issue;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that traditional agricultural practices, including small-scale farming and organic farming, can make a valuable contribution to food security, because they often represent the most effective way of utilising land through methods specifically developed in individual regions over lengthy periods of timall forms of sustainable agricultural practices make a valuable contribution to food security, particularly sustainable intensive practices which represent the most effective way of combining high productivity with sustainable land use, preservation of natural habitats, a positive impact on biodiversity and the fight against climate change;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Highlights the fact that products from small-scale farming supply local markets with fresh food, which is more environmentally sustainable than transported food and helps to support established farming communities; calls on the Commission to address these agricultural models in its future CAP proposals, including the possibility of creating special financial incentivesneed to preserve the diversity of agriculture in the EU; underlines the importance of farming in less favoured areas and calls on the Commission to provide continued support in these areas so as to ensure food production across Europe;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for aRecognises that reforms of the CAP that does not encroach on developing countries‘ ability to produce food, but which provides help for farmers to grow food locally; calls for the EU tove significantly reduced the impact of the EU's agricultural production on developing countries with export refunds all but eliminated; calls for the EU to recognise the importance of supporting the agricultural sectors of developing countries, namely by ensuring that agriculture is prioritised in developing countries and in the EU’s overseas development aid budget;