A revealing investigation has uncovered that 17 billionaires received substantial EU farming subsidies through their corporate holdings between 2018 and 2021, raising serious questions about wealth concentration in European agriculture.
The recipients include prominent figures such as former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and British industrialist Sir James Dyson, with the total subsidies linked to billionaire beneficiaries reaching €3.3 billion. This significant distribution of public funds occurred whilst thousands of smaller farming operations ceased trading.
Data analysis from EU member states reveals a complex web of corporate ownership structures through which these payments were channelled. Notable beneficiaries include Chinese investor Guangchang Guo, owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, and Danish businessman Anders Holch Povlsen, recognised for his extensive UK land holdings and rewilding initiatives.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which represents one-third of the EU’s total budget, has faced mounting criticism for its land-area-based payment model rather than need-based distribution. Environmental scientists have highlighted the policy’s counterproductive incentives, suggesting that between 50% and 80% of subsidies support animal agriculture instead of more sustainable food production methods.
Transparency concerns persist, with researchers from the Centre for European Policy Studies noting the practical impossibility of identifying ultimate beneficiaries with complete certainty. The investigation tracked ownership chains where individuals held at least 25% of companies receiving payments, though the complexity of corporate structures makes precise allocation of funds challenging.
The findings have prompted calls for reform, with French MEP Benoît Biteau describing the current situation as “madness” whilst emphasising the financial struggles of ordinary farmers. The revelation has intensified debates about the future direction of European agricultural policy and its role in promoting sustainable farming practices.
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