Call to recognise co-cultivation benefits in CAP reforms

French organic farmer Jack De Lozzo explains how co-cultivating cereal and leguminous crops falls into a legal void as regards the EU Common Agricultural Policy. De Lozzo has pioneered a farming approach in his native southwest France that combines tree growing and crop cultivation together in the same parcels. The result improves soil fertility and biodiversity, reduces erosion and cuts out chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. It involves planting lines of trees in his arable fields, minimal working of topsoil and keeping surface cover of organic matter through out the year. The approach contrasts with the widespread convention of deep ploughing, multi-pass cultivation with long periods in which fields are left with bare soil. De Lozzo suggests co-cultivation techniques should be recognised and accepted practice within the CAP designations. Furthermore, he argues they should even benefit from a waiver to the modulation deductions farmers incur on funds due to them via the Single Payment Scheme.