The other side of the mondialization

[Starchild]

Someone once thought of something shatteringly insightful:

Why not take the mass amounts of sugar produced under CAP and use it to produce biofuel? Kills so many birds with one stone. We reduce our needs of petrol imports, stop dumping on the third world, and get cheaper sugar on our tables.

*sigh* it's so insightful that no one will ever actually follow it through.

New Zealand does perfectly fine without agricultural subsidies. Farmers have just taken to alternative ways of making money. They raise exotic meats or high quality organic produce that fetches better prices. They take care of their surroundings and preserve the natural environment. Lordy, they run B&B's to urban people visiting the countryside.

Farmers aren't dumb people, they're just so heavily subsidised they don't have to think.

[TheStinger]

The mafia like their olive oil racket as well. As they own the Italian politicains that is another area that would be difficult to reform.

[MRT144]

i want to visit new zealand one day. lord of the rings has done wonders for new zealand tourism i bet.

[MikeH]

I went last year, it is amazing, well worth a visit.

[DAVOUT]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I second MRT's suggestion

Davout :
Maybe there could be an arrangement that doesn't destroy European agriculture (and peasants). Something along the line of helping only family farms or something, since they have little impact on worldwide production, unlike the massive agro complexes (which still get subsidies )

When subsidies are necessary (it could happen to give the time to adapt for instance) subsidies should be reduced, year after year until they disappear. The time limit would induce a great motivation. The most astute farmers know quite well here that the Euro subsidies will not last; either they quit or switch to produces not subsidized at all, but profitable.