Antony Burgmans, CEO of Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever’s Dutch holding company, called for a massive overhaul of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a speech made yesterday [Thursday], claiming that it is harmful and wasteful.

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Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Burgmans explained that CAP promotes overproduction and farmers’ overdependence on chemicals.


“In all respects it is counter-productive,” he said:  “It encourages the over-cropping of valuable agricultural land and excessive use of fertilisers and crop protection agents. More than €44bn (US$38.73bn) of EU taxpayers’ money is spent on agriculture without a proper sustainability assessment.”


Furthermore, Burgmans slammed the polidy for frustrating the export potential of countries outside the EU.

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