High Nature Value (HNV) farming refers mainly to low-intensity livestock farming relying on permanent and wooded pastures and hay meadows, and to low-intensity crop systems, traditional orchards and olive groves. It occurs mostly in areas where natural constraints hinder intensive production, but covers c. 30% of the EU agricultural land. HNV farms sustain a high diversity of species, habitats and landscape features, produce quality food, maintain open cultural landscapes appreciated by tourists and deliver services to the society (e.g. water/soil protection, fire/climate change mitigation). HNV farming indicators have been used in the CAP since 2005.
Clearly, HNV farmers face multiple pressures, their interests are poorly represented in the academic, farm advisory and policy sectors, and they are not suitably rewarded by policies. They must cope with EU regulations (e.g. food hygiene, animal health) not tailored to their situations and their income is often insufficient, leading to HNV farmland reconversion/abandonment and biodiversity loss. So, HNV farms need to adopt innovations of all types (e.g. social/institutional, regulation/policy, technique/management, markets/products) to ensure their viability. This calls for a more innovative and HNV farming friendly policy framework and the commitment of all stakeholders.
HNV-Link (High Nature Value Farming: Learning, Innovation and Knowledge, H2020, 2016-2019) engaged 10 HNV Learning Areas in a multi-actor and multi-scalar innovation brokering process. It acted at the grassroots, national and transnational levels, connecting rural development and innovation actors to support HNV farming systems by inspiring and sharing innovations/practices that improve their socio-economic viability while preserving their ecological value. The objectives were to: a) Assess innovation challenges and trends in HNV farming systems; b) Commit local actors for developing shared HNV farming visions and sustainable development pathways; c) Catalyse networking to transfer innovations that enhance HNV farms’ viability; d) Strengthen HNV farming advisory and education; e) Raise awareness of HNV farming benefits and advocate policy support.
HNV-Link developed such recommendations as: HNV farms are multi-functional and must be rewarded for their ecological, social and economic benefits; Plenty of innovations exist and regional/national frameworks must promote them; Supporting HNV farmers’ empowerment, organisation, and cooperation with other stakeholders is key; Agriculture, environment, food and rural development policies/regulations should suit better low-intensity farming; In the CAP, eco-schemes and Agri-environment-climate measures should incentivise HNV farming, and all semi-natural pastures/grasslands should be entitled to direct payments; the continuity of projects and institutional support must be ensured, as it takes time for innovation to develop across themes.
There is scope to improve the CAP to favour sustainable agricultural practices over intensive/damaging ones, but it is up to Member States to adequately support HNV farming through their CAP Strategic Plans.
