The document discusses challenges facing EU agriculture over the past 30 years and recommendations for addressing them through research and development. It notes rising costs, falling incomes, population growth, and increasing food and energy demands. Key challenges include climate change, water and environmental crises, and stagnating negotiations. R&D can boost productivity by developing seeds adapted to local conditions, efficient irrigation, soil protection, and other techniques. The document calls for increased public investment in agricultural R&D and better coordination to meet societal needs. It provides examples of successful R&D projects in Spain.

1. The outlook for EU agriculture:
.
Causes, constraints and challenges for
productivity
Sources for growth in agricultural productivity.
Research and Development
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INDEX
1.- Events that happened in the past 30 years.
Challenges
2.- R & D to these challenges . Productivity and
Profitability.
3.- Recommendations and Conclusions.
4.- Practical Examples
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2. 1.- Events that happened in the
past 30 years.
9 Increased environmental awareness of the Society but no consensus.
(Kyoto). Climate Change, water and biodiversity.
9 Water crisis.
9 Successive failures of the negotiations of the World Trade Organization.
(OMC). “The chip in the negotiations is AGRICULTURE”. The obstacles are
to be found in other business sectors and non-trade issues.
9 Economic and social inequalities far from alleviated in the third world
increases.
9 Exponential Growth of Population.
9 Economic growth in emerging countries demanding more food and more
energy consumption.
9 Increased demand and oil prices and gradual depletion of oil reserves and
thus causing the so-called Climate Change.
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1.- Hechos acontecidos en los
últimos 30 años..
9 Higher cost in agriculture(fertilizer, electricity, oil, etc..) as a result of rising oil. Since 1995 the prices received by
farmers in the EU have fallen by almost 14%.
9 The average income of the agricultural sector falls while in the other sectors increases.
9 In 2009 and 2010 more than 12,000 farms (Only in Andalusia) have disappeared..Decline in employment, Activity
CONTINUITY IN RURAL AREAS., greater depopulation and threatens the very existence of isolated rural villages.
9 For the first time in 2006, the people of the cities surpassed the rural world
9 Weight Loss of Agrarian Society and its production.
9 Paralysis of the Agricultural Research and Development for its lack of profitability.
9 The agricultural sector is not sufficiently appreciated despite their strategic importance.
9 Ensures the provision of food to consumers Food Safety and Quality
9 Maintaining the countryside, biodiversity, our landscape and our culture.
9 We are also essential in the search for alternatives to fossil fuels. Generate biomass.
9 We are the world's leading source for combating climate change.
9 Optimize water use and soil preventing desertification and deforestation
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3. Food Challenge
9,0
billons
6,5
6,0
2,5
1,5
1,0
0,5
1650 1800 1900 1950 2000 2050
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Energy Challenge
Mundo: Descubrimientos vs Producción
Demand
60
Peak to Today: 41 años
50
40
MM bbls / año
30 Demand
20
10
·
0
1930 1950 1970 1980 1990 2010 2030 2050
Año
Descubrim ientos pasados Descubrim ientos futuros Producción
Fuente: Exxon Mobil. BP
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4. Environmental Challenge .
Climate Change
Environmental impacts
Emisiones de dióxido de carbono por combustible Emisiones de dióxido de carbono por regiones
50 50
Histórico Proyección Economias Desarrolladas Transición
Emergentes Total
1000x Millones de toneladas
1000 x Millones de toneladas
40 40
30 30
Total
20 20
Petróleo
10 Carbón 10
Gas Natural
0 0
1970 1980 1990 2002 2015 2025 1990 2002 2010 2015 2020 2025
Fuente: Energy Information Administration
CO2 emissions to the atmosphere increased by nearly 25% in 2010 and 60% by
2025
Emerging economies accounted for 68% of the projected increase to 2025
Global Warming
Global Warming
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Impact
Global Warming
Climate Change
Food Crisis
Global Alarm
Governments respond
Environmental Policies ,Energetics and Food.
And the policies I + D + I?
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5. R & D to these challenges .
Productivity and Profitability.
Factors that influence agricultural
productivity.
Plant
Water
Soil
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R & D to these challenges .
Productivity and Profitability.
Plant
- Seeds of even shorter cycle and higher productivity. New seeds and
new varieties.
- + Drought-resistant
- + Resistant to pests
- - Need Water
- + Resistant to salinity.
But R & D adapted
the territory
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6. R & D to these challenges .
Productivity and Profitability.
Soil
- Best tillage techniques for soil type
- Techniques to prevent erosion.
- Techniques to avoid desertification
- Techniques that improve soil structure (organic)
But R & D adapted
the territory
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R & D to these challenges .
Productivity and Profitability.
Water
- Techniques to improve water efficiency
- Demand irrigation techniques and efficient .
- Techniques produce MORE AND BETTER with less
water.
But R & D adapted
the territory
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7. Conclusions and
Recommendations
- Public investment in agriculture has gone from more than 15% of public aid
to less than 5% in recent years . And the R & D is insignificant . We must
put agriculture in the spotlight of international policy research and
development.
- Strengthen cooperation not only between national research programs, but
also between the various initiatives driven by the different DGs(DG
Environment , DG Agri, etc..).
- We must improve the coordination of agricultural research . It misses the
dissemination and communication specific to their results and lack critical
mass.
- Research could play a greater role if different actors were better integrated
in the development of programs . In particular, it is essential to involve
farmers in determining the objectives of the research , in which we must
actively listening the real needs of the farmers themselves, as well as
the promotion of applied research and technology transfer
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Conclusions and
Recommendations
- The European Network for Rural Development and
the European Technology Platforms provide strategic
solutions to share and develop good ideas at European
level , reliable information and practical experience ,
structuring and reinforcing the production and sharing of
knowledge.
- Be investigated to meet the challenges of society and
agricultural needs , creating knowledge networks that
meet the nutritional needs and emerging needs of
climate and energy.
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8. Practical Examples
Proyect LIFE Doñana Sostenible (LIFE00/ENV/E/547); Jul. 2001 – Jun. 2004; budget :
789.693€; Design and Management of a model of sustainable land management in
tree crops in the environment of Doñana National Park.
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Practical Examples
Proyect LIFE Humedales Sostenibles (LIFE04/ENV/E/269); Oct. 2004 – Sep. 2007;
budget: 1.087.450€; Integrated Agriculture in the environment of Wetlands of
Community importance
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9. Practical Examples
Proyecto I+DEA (“Research and Development of Ethanol for Automotive ”) Project
Leader: ABENGOA. GREENCEELL; Ref. proyecto “CENIT 2007-1031”; budget: 33,1
M€; The scope of the project I + DEA covers the complete cycle of bioethanol , raw
materials (energy crops) and enzymes (biotechnology), technologies of
transformation from agricultural products and their use in engines
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Practical Examples
Proyect OPTIMIZATION OF IRRIGATION WATER USE IN IRRIGATED CROPS USING
NEW TECHNOLOGIES .
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10. Practical Examples
Proyect: I+D RECOLECCIÓN MECANIZADA. table olives
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Thank you very much for your attention
Carlos Mesa: cmesa@asajasev.es
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