The current proposals for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could lead to a less common CAP across the EU, professor Alan Matthews of Trinity College Dublin has said.

“I tend to take the view that what the European Commission has proposed is going to lead to a less common CAP.

“We had this debate last time around as well.

“It’s clear that member states want as much flexibility as possible,” he said.

“What’s the point to the whole thing if there isn’t a European dimension to it.

“In my view there are two ways we can keep some European dimension to it.

“One, we ring-fence a budget for agri-environment schemes and two, we have a steering mechanism where the Commission issues recommendations to member states on CAP plans for inclusion.

“Now, EU agriculture ministers don’t want to be told how to spend money, these recommendations should be advisory, not binding.

“Member states should be required to justify what they spend their money on,” he said.

Most of the debate on CAP has been focused on the budget and a single fund rather than on the CAP regulation itself to date, he said.

Matthews said it could be debated whether the eco schemes in the current CAP are an environmental payment or an income support payment to farmers.

Matthews will address the upcoming Nuffield International Triennial Agri Summit on Friday 22 May in the Killashee Hotel, where he will feature on a panel on feeding the world.

He said that he still believes that it is possible to feed 10bn people by 2050.

“I do think it’s possible. Population growth is slowing down,” he said.

However, he said the question is can the world continue to increase yields without increasing the demand for more land.

Citing deforestation and water availability as issues, he also said yields in irrigated areas are proving difficult to maintain.

Extreme drought and rainfall events “limit the extent at which yields can continue to grow”, he said. “We need to debate if we have reached a yield plateau, especially on cereals,” he added.

Matthews does not believe Ireland can sit back on its climate commitments.

“Even if we in Ireland reduce our emissions, that’s still not going to impact on the climate that affects Ireland.

“That will be determined by action on a global scale.

“Does that mean we should sit back?

“I don’t think that [Ireland sitting back] makes sense, partly because I think there is a reputational risk given we are dependent on exports,” he said.