| Prize Criteria Nominees for the Prize may be persons or organizations who have had a major impact in the following fields: - Reinforcement of "Rural Europe" as a framework for sustainable agriculture and food chains, interwoven with nature management, tourism and other factors; - Promotion of the social and economic integration of urban and rural areas; - Promotion of fair trade rules between developed and developing countries. Motivation Sicco Mansholt was a long-term, strategic thinker, combining his passion for agricultural issues with a scientific approach. Two principles inspired his work: a strong belief in social democracy, with its central tenet of solidarity with the poor, both in Europe and in the developing world. In his later years, Mansholt developed a firm commitment to the environment, which must be preserved for the benefit of future generations. Mansholt had a keen eye for the interests of farmers, both social and economical. But he was equally committed to issues concerning consumers, the environment and the poor in the developing world. Initially, he advocated a large-scale, rationalised form of rural development, aimed at providing a secure income for farmers in post-war Europe. While he recognized that resources available to mankind are limited, he favoured the development of a sustainable, economically viable agriculture, firmly embedded in a global society. Within the recently enlarged European Union, there are major differences in agricultural development. As a result of reforms in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, the system of price- and market intervention will be gradually replaced by direct payments to farmers. Also, sustainable development and food quality will be more prominent. Internally, this poses major challenges to the political decision-making process within the EU. In a global context, the enlarged EU represents a strong economic power, with a tendency to maintain high import tariffs. In this context, the need for inspiring, integrating and innovative ideas in the field of sustainable agriculture and a fair distribution of the world's resources is especially urgent. The Mansholt Prize seeks to stimulate such thinking. |