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agriculture and the environment
Agriculture is inherently multifunctional. Its target is not
only to produce food but it has a strong impact on many other
aspects of local economies, social systems and ecosystems. The
impact of agriculture on the environment ranges from water pollution,
chemicals and waste, to water abstraction, from declining soil
quality and fertility to air pollution and pollution from thousands
of unnecessary transport miles every year. Polluted water and
air, the destruction of natural habitats and the use of pesticides
have already had dramatic effects on European biodiversity.
In the UK alone, 170 native species have become extinct this
century. Farmland birds have particularly suffered: in the UK,
the populations of nine key species fell by more than half between
1970-1995. Many of this extinct species contributed, directly
or indirectly, to pest control. We demand a European Agriculture
that is environmentally sustainable, where farmers are true
stewards of the land, and production is linked to minimum environmental
standards.
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![[photo]](../images/spacer_blue.jpg)
