How is EU lobbying blocking climate farming reform?

Copa Cogeca is the largest agricultural lobbying group in Europe, claiming to be "the united voice" of 22 million farmers. But a new investigation from Lighthouse Reports suggests the true size of their membership is far smaller than this - and that the group uses its unrivalled influence to block climate and environmental reform, and lobby for industrial farmers at the expense of smallholders.

Bertie spoke to award-winning journalist Thin Lei Win, Lighthouse's Lead Food Systems Reporter, about the story.

Audio editing by Vasko Kostovski.

Further reading:
• 'Europe’s Potemkin Lobby (lighthousereports.com/investigation/europes-po…)' - Lighthouse Reports
• 'The truth behind Europe’s most powerful farmers lobby (politico.eu/article/copa-cogeca-farmering-lobb…)' - Politico
• View Copa-Cogeca's specific figures on lobbying spending on lobbyfacts.eu here (lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/european-farmers?rid=09…).
• Greenpeace's Out of Balance (greenpeace.org/eu-unit/issues/nature-food/1224…) report, mentioned in the interview.
• 'EU Investigating Agribusiness Lobby Group Copa-Cogeca Over Potential Transparency Breach (desmog.com/2022/01/25/eu-investigating-agribus…)', DeSmog
• Romanian language reporting on the story from Libertatea here (libertatea.ro/stiri/investigatie-libertatea-im…)and here (libertatea.ro/stiri/investigatie-cum-a-fost-av…).
• Danish language reporting on the story from Danwatch here (danwatch.dk/undersoegelse/magtudredning-sadan-…).
• Polish language reporting on the story from OKO.press here (oko.press/copa-cogeca-rolnicze-lobby).
Send us Fan Mail (buzzsprout.com/1695859/fan_mail/new)
Find all our latest investigations, features and interviews at landclimate.org