You're listening to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

The EU's common agricultural policy, known as CAP, has been constantly adapted to respond to contemporary challenges.

The latest reform in 2014

aimed at making it greener and more market-oriented. But how is it working? And what further

changes may be needed in the light of the new economic, social and environmental challenges

facing the sector? We'll find out in this podcast.

Did you know that there are 10.8 million farms in the EU?

In 2015, they produced over 316 million tonnes of cereal, 12 million tons of apples, and 152 million tons of milk, among many other products.

But farming is not just about food.

It's about rural communities and the people who live in them.

It's about looking after our countryside and its natural resources,

about keeping the rural economy alive.

This is why, since the very beginning,

the EU's common agriculture policy has strived to help farmers fulfill these multiple tasks. But the cap is facing serious long-term challenges, starting with food security.

According to the UN's food and agriculture organization, food production will have to

double in order to feed a world population of 9 billion people by 2050. The question is, how can this be done in a sustainable way?

Another challenge is climate change.

As its effects on agricultural production are expected to intensify over time,

the question is how can we protect this sector

and use all its potential to mitigate, adapt and make a positive contribution to the EU's climate targets.

Addressing territorial cohesion and global price volatility are also important challenges,

and the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee has called for new instruments to help farmers cope with volatile prices.

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