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Family FarmingagRicultuRelooks to the Futuredacian ciolos‚euRopean commissioneR FoR agRicultuRe and RuRal developmentEuropean agriculture is diverse. With 12 million farms and 172 million hect- ares of agricultural land in our 28 member states, the sector employs 25 mil- lion people. There is an enormous variation in agronomic and climatic condi- tions, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, from the Alps to small islands and the plains of the Paris Basin and East Anglia. There are also enormous variations in terms of farm size, structures, agricultural practices and tradi- tions. And, last but not least, Europe is home to a wide range of products. This remarkable variety is the direct result of the history, traditions, agricul- ture and eating habits that each of the 28 member states has developed over centuries.54 almanaC