The good and bad of it....

It is interesting to see first hand the impact the CAP policies are having on Eurpoean Agriculture.  On one hand there is alot of traditional and conservative farming which is struggling to compete ecomnomically, while there is very impressive innovation and cutting edge technology used in agriculture.

The photos show Koppert Kress, near Rotterdam, which supplies the global trade with fresh salad ingredients.  They utilise LCD lighting and ground stores of energy to heat the water for the Glasshouses.  Over 1 hectare is under glass and the product is supplied all year round.  

It is a commonly held view that subsidies do not encourage innovation.  This is supported by the current success of the pig and horticultural industries, neither of whch are subsidised and are generally doing very well, thankyou.  Meanwhile the traditional farming systems such as dairying are struggling with profitability, and it could easily be argued that maintainence of the subsidy system is good for NZ agricuture.  That one I didn't see coming...