EISA “at a glance” 2017

Brief Annual Report published

Our two pages Annual Report provides insights into the organisation “at a glance”. Anyone who wants to know more is invited to explore our website, follow EISA on twitter (@SustAgriculture) or contact either our Policy Officer Martijn Buijsse or our Technical Director Andreas Frangenberg. Contact details are provided here: Read more …

Agriculture in Transition

EISA’s Policy Officer Martijn Buijsse discusses some of the issues facing sustainable agriculture in Europe

In an interview with Pan European Networks EISA’s policy officer, Martijn Buijsse, explains some of the issues facing sustainable European agriculture, including issues in the regulatory environment and challenges in moving innovative new technologies to the marketplace. Read more …

Climate Change – From an Integrated Farm Management perspective

24 May, 2017

EISA Policy Officer Martijn Buijsse gave a keynote speech at the Macsur conference on “Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security” in Berlin today and highlighted the role that agricultural policy can play to contribute to the Paris Agreement and to UN Sustainable Development Goals through encouraging the uptake of Integrated Farm Management. Access full presentation here:

Valuable Resource for Modernising and Simplifying the CAP: EISA Farmers’ Network

May 3rd, 2017
During the last meeting of the Civial Dialogue Group (CDG) on CAP, EISA Policy Officer Martijn Buijsse renewed EISA’s offer to provide deep insights into sustainable agriculture in practice via the EISA Farmers’ Network. “I want to invite you to come to these farmers via the network that we have in place. This network covers 7 EU countries. We can help you to visit farmers and facilitate the debate on policies which aim at reducing CO2 emissions and monitoring the results.” Read full statement here:

EISA’s proposal towards the future CAP

In order to modernise and simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in line with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement, and the conclusions of the Cork 2.0 declaration, introducing Integrated Farm Management (IFM) into the CAP as a part of the rural development programme offers win-win solutions. IFM delivers value in agriculture, enriches the environment and engages local communities. Farmers implementing IFM deliver measurable agro-ecological and societal services with regard to soil, water, biodiversity, animal health and welfare, and climate change while ensuring economic viability.

EISA proposes to political decision makers that the EU formally recognises farming businesses adopting IFM practices, specifically for their proven commitment to more sustainable farming practices … Read full position paper

EISA Annual Report 2016

Foreword
The European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture (EISA) was founded with the common aim of developing and promoting Integrated Farm Management (IFM) throughout Europe. Integrated Farm Management is a sustainable system which helps farmers improve the way they farm for the profitability of their business, the benefit of the environment, and social responsibility, including all important aspects of sustainable development. A detailed description and characterisation of Integrated Farm Management is available on the EISA website www.sustainable-agriculture.org.

In 2016, national organisations from France, Luxembourg, Germany, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands supported EISA as full members, and six organisations from the agricultural supply chain supported the organisation’s work as Associate Members. EISA works closely with EU institutions and other stakeholders to contribute to the development of agricultural and environmental policies in Europe.

EISA members help create a better public understanding of agriculture through a Network of Working Farms and various other communication and demonstration activities. They bring farmers and consumers together to raise awareness of how farmers are working in harmony with nature to efficiently produce good, safe food and renewable resources with economic, environmental and social care.

The EISA Annual Report 2016 presents an overview on EISA’s and National EISA Members’ activities as well as brief descriptions of the organisation’s six Associate Members. Many of EISA’s and EISA members’ activities are part of long-lasting projects often being performed year after year or even several times per year.

If you are interested in receiving further information or in getting involved on the national or the European level, you are more than welcome to contact EISA and EISA members for more details. (Read full Annual Report here)

Patrick Wrixon, EISA President

EISA: Enhancing biodiversity through Integrated Farming – a viable alternative to organic farming

eisalogoPresentation by Martijn Buijsse, EISA Policy Officer, to the European Biodiversity Conference in Brussels, on 7 December 2016. Hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to present contributions of Integrated Farming to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity on farms. Look at the presentation in detail …

EISA Annual Report 2015 published

EISA-AR-2015EISA, the European Initiative for Sustainable Development in Agriculture, just published the organisation’s Annual Report 2015. This report highlights activities of EISA on the European level as well as key projects and activities of the seven national EISA members in their respective countries. In addition, the report provides brief information on the Associate Members of EISA and their main fields of work. Read more …

Dairy Pasture Management in Integrated Farming

livestock trail ThiryIntegrated Farming Topic Sheet no 7 / 2016

As a consequence of the globalisation of the milk market and resulting price volatility, the European dairy sector faces enormous challenges. In addition to these economic developments, there are also growing environmental and societal challenges: the preservation of the abiotic resources soil, air and water, and the protection of nature and biodiversity as biotic resources receive growing public attention. Innovative dairy production systems including effective pasture management as characterised in the Integrated Farming (IF) Framework helps dairy farmers to improve the sustainability of their businesses. Read more…