How can agriculture in Europe be supported in a sustainable manner in the face of ever-increasing competition for financial resources? The debate on the shape of the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period 2028 to 2034 has been in full swing in political, social and academic circles since the European Commission published its legislative proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and for the CAP in July 2025.

The project ‘The CAP after 2027 – Preserving and Promoting Biodiversity’ (GAPpost2027) examines the potential impacts of the legislative proposals on agri-environmental support and biodiversity conservation in Germany. The project combines a systematic analysis and assessment of the legislative proposals for the CAP 2028 to 2034 with the iterative development of scenarios for the future design of agri-environmental support in Germany. Building on this, policy options for the design of agri-environmental support and biodiversity conservation within the framework of the CAP 2028–2034 are derived. Expert dialogue, quality assurance and the context-specific assessment of current political developments are integral parts of the approach.

The project is being carried out jointly by the Ecologic Institute and Humboldt University of Berlin. Both partners contribute complementary expertise in the analysis of agricultural and environmental policy, biodiversity conservation and policy mixes, as well as in the development of scenarios and scientifically sound policy advice. The results are intended to provide the funding body with a robust technical basis for assessing the CAP reform process and for developing realistic adaptation options within the German implementation context.