The European Commission does not intend to force farmers to be more sustainable but to instead support them in their efforts, EU Agriculture Commissioner, Janusz Wojciechowski has told the Irish Farmers Journal.

In his first interview with the Irish media since he was appointed in December last, he said that the Commission wants to work with farmers.

In a wide-ranging interview, the Commissioner told the Irish Farmers Journal that farmers aren’t the enemy when it comes to the environment and climate but part of the solution.

The Commissioner covered the full range of issues that will shape the future of Irish farming over the next decade and beyond.

Funding for the CAP and the place of the Green Deal and how it could work for Irish family farms were discussed and the Commissioner again emphasised his ambition to get 25% of EU land in organic production.

For the full interview with the Commissioner, pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal.