Rather than supporting a transition to regenerative agriculture, vital for strategic autonomy and climate adaptation, the package weakens environmental safeguards under the guise of “simplification.” This is a step backwards for both sustainability and strategic preparedness.

Simplification must not mean deregulation

EARA strongly supports genuine simplification, reducing bureaucratic burden, improving clarity, and streamlining compliance for farmers. However, simplification must not be used as a pretext to dismantle essential environmental protections. The current proposal does exactly that, eroding the standards needed to manage Europe’s land and ecosystems responsibly.

Poor value for money, poor strategy

Cutting support for sustainable agriculture and slashing Pillar II ecosystem measures is both short-sighted and economically unsound. It undermines the EU’s own principles of “preparedness by design” and value-for-money public spending.

If current trends continue, now reinforced by this package, the EU faces increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, and growing dependence on imported fertilisers, pesticides, feed, and fossil fuels. These dependencies expose the EU to volatile global supply chains and geopolitical risks.

The financial risks are real: drought-related costs alone could reach €65 billion annually by 2100 (World Business Council and OP2B). Globally, up to 90% of soils may be degraded by 2050, even as food demand increases by 60% (Niinistö Report).

Regenerative agriculture is a proven, cost-effective alternative. By improving soil health, water retention, and biodiversity, it reduces the frequency and severity of climate-induced shocks. According to Boston Consulting Group (2025), investing just 1–2% of GDP in climate resilience could avoid damages worth up to 27% of global GDP by 2100.

Cutting funding for agricultural support and removing Pillar II ecosystem measures is short-sighted and represents poor value for EU taxpayers. It directly undermines the EU’s own objectives of preparedness by design, strategic autonomy, and value-for-money spending.

No security without food security

Military preparedness alone is insufficient. The Niinistö Report recognises that security must also include societal and systemic resilience. Regenerative agriculture supports this broader security agenda by reinforcing food systems, rural cohesion, and ecological infrastructure.
By reducing Europe’s dependence on external inputs and revitalising local economies through investment in skills, labour, and regional supply chains, regenerative systems bolster the EU’s internal cohesion; core to the Strategic Compass and cohesion policy goals.
Moreover, ecosystem services such as clean water, fertile soils, and biodiversity are critical public goods. Recognising farmers as frontline actors in climate resilience fosters urban–rural solidarity and reframes their role as essential to Europe’s democratic and ecological stability.

EARA calls on the Commission and Member States to urgently redirect policy toward regenerating forms of agriculture. This is not only an ecological imperative: it is a strategic investment in Europe’s security, resilience, and sovereignty.