Providing incentives for sustainable use of natural resources by farmers

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends promoting pricing mechanisms, trade policies, fiscal incentives and other policy instruments that positively affect individual farmer's decisions about an efficient and sustainable use of natural resources, and take full account of the impact of these decisions on household food security, farm income, employment and the environment. Agenda 21 also recommends developing national policies that would provide incentives to farmers and local people to undertake conservation measures and to use environment-friendly technologies.

One of the most important objectives for the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform stated in Agenda 2000 is consistent with the integration of environmental objectives in the CAP and with the empowerment of the role of farmers in the management and conservation of natural resources and landscapes.