Fertiliser and spray use will be slashed on farms as part of a Brussels plan to halve EU emissions by 2030.

Leaked European Commission draft documents seen by the Irish Farmers Journal propose “significantly” reducing fertiliser use and a cut of between 25% and 50% in pesticides.

One of the documents references the pro-vegan EAT-Lancet report and says the consumption of meat and dairy products has come under “increased scrutiny” in relation to climate change and that people are “losing trust in modern food systems”.

A key part of the Commission plan is to push the organic farm envelope, which it believes will achieve a reduction in fertiliser and pesticide use while meeting “the expectations of society for healthy and sustainable food”.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is behind the “Green Deal”.

Stakeholders are to be consulted before the proposals are committed to law, which could be as soon as next spring.

Irish farmers are also facing being left in limbo without scheme payments in 2022 as Brexit delays the next CAP.

Pillar II schemes such as GLAS and BDGP, worth €200m annually to farmers, reach the end of their term in 2021.