Globalisation, climate change, population growth and urbanisation are all having an impact on the world’s agriculture. Through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which accounts for the biggest share of the EU budget, the EU is driving developments in this strategic sector. Latest figures show that farming employs over 20 million people in the EU, many of which are in rural and peripheral regions where there are few alternative employment prospects. This illustrates the considerable contribution that the agricultural sector can make to the jobs, growth and investment agenda which is a core element of President Juncker’s political guidelines for the European Commission (2014–19).

Agricultural statistics provide data for monitoring progress towards CAP targets and for the design and implementation of new policies that will ensure our wellbeing as well as a safe and sustainable global society.