ERIAFF The Netherlands hosts “Balancing the EU CAP: Common Goals, Green Ambition, Flexibility”

Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands) — 27–29 October

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature will host the conference “Balancing the EU CAP: Common Goals, Green Ambition, Flexibility” on 27–29 October at the Hotel Pullman Eindhoven Cocagne in Eindhoven, in the Province of Noord-Brabant.

With the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the 2028–2034 period under discussion, the conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers and agri-food stakeholders to explore how common goals, green ambition and flexibility can be combined in the future CAP.

Programme highlights

The 28th, the conference will open with remarks by Marten van den Berg, Director-General Agriculture and Food at the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, followed by a keynote from Sjoukje Heimovaara, President of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research, who will share insights from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.

Prof. Harald Grethe (Humboldt University of Berlin / Agora Agriculture) will deliver a keynote on the importance of a common agricultural policy, the proposed CAP architecture, and how common goals can be achieved while addressing the diversity of European agriculture.

High-level panels will feature representatives of the European Commission (DG AGRI), the European Parliament and the Irish Presidency of the Council, alongside practitioners from Rabobank, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and Copa-Cogeca, discussing the opportunities and practical challenges of delivering common ambitions.

In the afternoon, interactive breakout sessions will focus on three themes:

• Market orientation and perspectives for farmers — how market actors and governments can contribute to stronger economic perspectives for farmers in times of decreasing budgets;
• Enabling and accelerating innovative solutions — the role of the CAP in supporting experimentation, pilot projects and innovative farming practices;
• Target-based approaches — experiences from the field in applying target-based approaches to challenges such as nitrates in agriculture.

On 29 October, participants will visit local organizations, with three options:

• Agroforestry — how green ambitions can be translated into new farming systems (Agroforestry Blueprint);
• Circular chicken farming — a poultry farm combining animal welfare, circularity and a reduced environmental footprint (Kipster);
• Agricultural water management — a farm in the southeastern sandy region testing a target-based approach to water management.

The conference offers a valuable opportunity for regions to exchange experiences on how the future CAP can combine environmental ambition with economically viable farming systems — a question at the heart of regional agricultural innovation networks across Europe.

For the registration, visit Balancing the EU CAP: Common Goals, Green Ambition, Flexibility Tickets, Tuesday 27 October-Thursday 29 October | Eventbrite 

Full program, here