The transition towards a more sustainable agricultural model should address both the scale of farms and the type of agriculture in place, particularly large-scale monocultures that have significant impacts on ecosystems. Overall, CAP support should actively encourage the shift towards agricultural practices that reduce monocultures, diversify land use and contribute to the protection of pollinators and ecosystems.

CAP measures should therefore support smaller and more diversified farms, which often rely on practices that are more favourable to biodiversity, while introducing stronger environmental conditionalities for large-scale farms, especially those based on intensive monocultures.

• CAP support should also move beyond a predominantly area-based logic, so that public funding does not mainly reward the amount of land farmed but better reflects the actual contribution of farms to biodiversity and pollinator protection.

• In this perspective, the CAP could introduce a fair and transparent scoring system based on ecological criteria, such as reduced pesticide use, biodiversity-friendly practices, habitat preservation and more diversified land use.

• This system should rely on independent monitoring carried out by an external body, in order to reduce the risks of fraud, corruption and greenwashing.

• The CAP should also take into account the evolution of farms over time, ensuring that farms growing from small to larger operations continue to meet sustainability requirements and that public funding remains aligned with environmental objectives.

CAP support should also provide targeted assistance to vulnerable farmers and to those who are starting, or considering starting, a transition towards more sustainable or organic practices, including support to offset temporary losses in income or yield during the transition period.

The European Commission and EU Member States should reform and implement the CAP to better support this transition taking into account local sensitivies in the scoring system. Member States should integrate these objectives into their national CAP strategic plans, ensure that funding mechanisms reflect sustainability goals. Regional authorities should also play a role in adapting implementation to local farming realities, soil conditions and environmental needs.