Call for an end to farm subsidies

Pressure is growing for farm support payments to be replaced with a scheme that will pay to protect the environment and encourage "sustainable" food production.

A coalition of environmental groups and the House of Lords European Union Committee called for direct payments to farmers under the current EU Common Agricultural Policy to be phased out because they are an "inefficient" way of ensuring sustainable agriculture.

The Wildlife and Countryside Link's farming and rural development group chairman Ian Woodhurst said a new way should be found to pay for environment management that would ensure secure supplies of food as well as a beautiful countryside, rich in wildlife and historic assets.

"We find there just isn't enough money to reward farmers for the countryside management they undertake," he said.

"Producing food and looking after our environment should be one and the same thing."

In its report, Beyond the Pillars, the coalition, which includes the Council for National Parks, the National Trust and the RSPB, said the change would make sure that the CAP created profitable rural businesses and communities.

The CAP is currently composed of two "pillars" – Pillar One for direct farm support and Pillar Two for rural development.