"Exclusive: High-level documents show how Copa Cogeca worked to weaken legislation to protect climate and wildlife"
"Newly revealed documents from inside the most powerful farming lobby in Europe show how it delayed, gutted and overturned some of the most sweeping farming reforms in EU history, including a plan to cut pesticide use in half.
Copa Cogeca describes itself as the voice of 22 million farmers across the continent, and enjoys unrivalled access to EU lawmakers. It has even been described as a “partner in policymaking”.
So when the EU launched plans for radical farming reforms in 2020 in response to concerns about climate breakdown and the nature crisis, Copa Cogeca swung into action and in February 2021 set out its lobbying strategy. Dozens of documents recording internal Copa Cogeca meetings, obtained by Grilled – an investigative journalism project focused on food systems – and the Guardian give a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the lobbying firm."
