EU Making Animal Diets ‘Artificially Cheap’ With Subsidies, Report Finds

A recent study found that the European Union's common agricultural policy (CAP) heavily subsidizes animal agriculture, providing four times more money than it does for the production of plant-based foods. This disproportionate support for animal products has led to artificially cheap meat prices, contributing to unsustainable production and consumption patterns. Despite repeated criticisms, the CAP has failed to make farming more climate-friendly, with livestock farming receiving more support due to its inefficiency and resource-intensive nature.

The study authors highlight the negative impacts of intensive chicken production on the environment, animal welfare, and human health. They stress the need for the CAP to promote the transition towards more sustainable plant-based foods to address environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. By disproportionately supporting livestock farming, the CAP creates economic disincentives for transitioning to more environmentally-friendly food choices, leading to what the authors call "perverse outcomes for food transition." The authors urge for policy changes to align with the goals of the European Green Deal and address agriculture's impact on the environment.