The evolution of the Portuguese agriculture in the context of the European Union

Abstract

The major objective of this chapter is to analyse and briefly describe the evolution of Portuguese agriculture in the context of the European Agriculture. It is not a comprehensive analysis. It is a sketch of its major changes due to major aspects that had influenced in particular the Common Agricultural Policy, and how has evolved with respect to changes in CAP orientation and reforms. This analysis provides an example that might be useful to understand what can be done in the future both in Portugal as in other countries In some aspects figures about these countries including Poland will be presented to benchmark the analysis. Besides this introduction, the chapter has five additional sections. In the next section, background on the Portuguese agriculture and policy before accession is provided. Then, in the third, socio-economic structural characteristics of Portuguese agriculture and their evolution for the last four decades are briefly presented. In the fourth section analysis turns read and understand the evolution as major implications of changes in agricultural policy from CAP reforms. In the fifth section we turn to aspects that are the focus of post-2013 CAP reform and 14 relate them to Portuguese status. Finally, as a conclusion, we look for CAP and the sustainable orientations for Portuguese farmers.