Listen: AgriFocus - GAEC 2 with INHFA president Vincent Roddy
In this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, Agriland’s Stella Meehan sits down with president of the Irish Nature & Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA), Vincent Roddy to discuss the GAEC 2 regulation.
GAEC stands for Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions, and it refers to a set of European Union (EU) standards aiming to achieve sustainable agriculture.
Farmers have to respect these standards if they are in receipt of direct payments under Common Agricultural Policy CAP.
GAEC 2, which is about protecting wetlands and peatlands, is applicable from this year as part of conditionality for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability, (BISS).
Roddy explains to Agriland that mineral soils should not be included in the map assessments for affected land and wants changes made as part of the EU simplification process.
He explains that the farm organisation hopes to meeting agriculture minister, Martin Heydon this week to discuss the matter further and the concerns farmers have.
