A surreal warning for Europe’s farms
July 16, 2025
By WeMove Europe
Agribusiness is cashing in on EU money, while sustainable farmers are going bust. Thanks to the support of this community, together we confronted EU leaders with a bold warning about the future of farming in Europe.
Right outside the European Parliament in Brussels, we unveiled a surreal art installation inspired by the Belgian artist Magritte. The message: what looks like an apple, a farm, or even a farmer... isn’t. Not anymore.
The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) defends the same broken agriculture model that encourages pesticides, megafarms, fuels the climate crisis, and drives small farmers out.
The reality is as surreal as the art:
- 💔 Over 5 million farms have disappeared across the EU since 2005 [1]
- 💶 80% of CAP funds go to just 20% of the largest farms in the EU or megafarms [2]
- 👨🌾 Up to 70% of farmers feel forgotten and disrespected [3]
This week, the European Commission proposed a new and more limited budget for EU farm subsidies, but how the money will be allocated will be decided in the months to come. [4] Through this artwork, we challenged outdated perceptions of farming and food that are failing farmers, consumers and the environment.
And it worked! The artwork grabbed headlines all across Europe!
EU farm policy must change. Will the money serve people, animals and the planet or continue to fuel torture, pollution and exploitation?
More than 100,000 people from this community have already signed the petition to demand a new path that supports fair prices, healthy food, and doesn’t cost the earth. [5]
Our people-powered movement together with farmers, activists and artists across Europe, will be watching the EU every step of the way. If the new plan doesn’t meet our demands, we’ll be ready to act.
 defends the same broken agriculture model that encourages pesticides, megafarms, fuels the climate crisis, and drives small farmers out.
The reality is as surreal as the art:
- 💔 Over 5 million farms have disappeared across the EU since 2005 [1]
- 💶 80% of CAP funds go to just 20% of the largest farms in the EU or megafarms [2]
- 👨🌾 Up to 70% of farmers feel forgotten and disrespected [3]
This week, the European Commission proposed a new and more limited budget for EU farm subsidies, but how the money will be allocated will be decided in the months to come. [4] Through this artwork, we challenged outdated perceptions of farming and food that are failing farmers, consumers and the environment.
And it worked! The artwork grabbed headlines all across Europe!
EU farm policy must change. Will the money serve people, animals and the planet or continue to fuel torture, pollution and exploitation?
More than 100,000 people from this community have already signed the petition to demand a new path that supports fair prices, healthy food, and doesn’t cost the earth. [5]
Our people-powered movement together with farmers, activists and artists across Europe, will be watching the EU every step of the way. If the new plan doesn’t meet our demands, we’ll be ready to act.
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