Member states will have the opportunity to identify areas of land to make eligible for payments under the next CAP based on their contribution to biodiversity, Wolfgang Burtscher said in the webinar, still available to view on www.farmersjournal.ie/thenewcap.

Existing land eligibility rules have often faced criticism that they contribute to a loss of biodiversity on farms because land must be maintained in a productive state to qualify for a direct payment. It can also mean hedges are cut back to ensure they do not encroach on the margins of fields.

Burtscher said: “We have instruments that permit remunerating farmers for contributing to biodiversity and I think it’s really up to the member states to identify those schemes and those landscape features they think are worthwhile to be eligible under these different instruments.”

National strategic plans aim to bring together spending on direct payments and rural development schemes.

It is hoped a joined-up approach will prevent features encouraged under agri-environmental schemes, such as ponds or field margins, being deemed ineligible for direct payments.