All articles tagged with #agricultural policy
China is implementing measures to stabilize its pig population as pork prices plunge, including offering subsidies to large-scale pig farms and encouraging smaller farms to consolidate. The country is also aiming to boost pork consumption and reduce imports in an effort to support domestic farmers and stabilize the market.
French farmers are protesting against falling incomes and excessive red tape, demonstrating their political power and influence on agricultural policies. The government has made concessions, including less red tape, extra subsidies, and opposition to a trade deal with Mercosur. However, experts warn that giving in to farmers' demands for fewer environmental regulations may hinder the transition to a more sustainable agricultural sector, despite the farmers' significant influence on EU policies.
European farmers are gaining power and influence as they rebel against agricultural policies they see as detrimental to their livelihoods. Frustrated by what they perceive as unfair treatment and neglect by the European Union, farmers are organizing protests and demanding changes to policies that affect their businesses. This growing rebellion is forcing policymakers to take notice and consider reforms to address the concerns of the agricultural community.
Spanish farmers have joined their European counterparts in protesting against EU regulations, demanding more flexibility, tighter controls on non-EU produce, and government support. They blocked roads in various regions and plan a large demonstration in Madrid. High costs, drought, and competition from non-EU countries are squeezing their profits. Similar protests are happening in France, Italy, and Belgium, with concerns about the EU's Green Deal and government plans to end tax subsidies for the agricultural sector. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a plan to withdraw pesticide use reduction, sparking mixed reactions.
Spanish farmers joined their European counterparts in protesting high costs, bureaucracy, and competition from non-EU nations by blocking traffic on major highways, burning tires, and demanding government support. They blame demanding EU regulations for making them less competitive and say politicians prioritize large retailers over their needs. The protests come amid a distribution of 269 million euros in aid to alleviate the impact of drought and the war in Ukraine, with at least 14 highways blockaded in regions across Spain.
Researchers have identified certain pesticides used in agricultural settings that were linked to Parkinson’s disease risk among people living in California — and that were toxic to nerve cells in laboratory studies. Particularly, a pesticide called trifluralin was a significant driver of nerve cell toxicity, an effect that was stronger when the chemical was combined with other pesticides. The scientists believe their approach of evaluating pesticides from both a field- and lab-based perspective “may prove useful to mechanistically dissect pesticide exposures implicated in [Parkinson’s] risk and guide agricultural policy.”