Skip to main content
Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy

Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

  • Glossary item | 19 Mar 2025

Good agricultural and environmental conditions

Bioeconomy
Good agricultural and environmental conditions, abbreviated as GAEC, refers to a set of European Union (EU) standards (described in Annex II of Council Regulation No 1306/2013 defined at national or regional level), aiming to achieve a sustainable agriculture. Keeping land in good agricultural and environmental conditions is directly related to issues such as:
  • minimum level of maintenance;
  • protection and management of water;
  • soil erosion;
  • soil organic matter;
  • soil structure.
These standards are to be respected by European farmers receiving direct payments or some of the rural development payments.
 
Eurostat b, Glossary, accessed 19 March 2025
 
Source category: EC Technical Documents