European Union Common Agricultural Policy Reforms and Implications for Nigerian Agribusiness Exports

This study analyses the implications of the European Union's 2023 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for Nigerian agribusiness export enterprises, with particular focus on firms exporting processed food and agricultural commodities to European markets. The CAP reform has introduced new sustainability requirements, farm-to-fork standards, and carbon-adjusted agricultural benchmarks that are reshaping European import demand patterns and supply chain due diligence requirements. This applied policy study employs documentary analysis of CAP reform regulations, supplemented by interviews with Nigerian agribusiness executives and agricultural trade policy officers in Lagos, Ibadan, and Enugu. The research examines how CAP-related changes in EU food standards affect market access for Nigerian products including cassava flour, groundnut oil, palm products, and processed foods. It further investigates how Nigerian agribusiness firms are adapting production practices, certifications, and supply chain management to meet evolving EU requirements. The study also assesses the professional capacity of Nigerian trade policy institutions, including the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to support the private sector in navigating CAP-driven market changes. Findings yield practical recommendations for agribusiness managers and trade policy professionals. Keywords: EU Common Agricultural Policy, Nigerian agribusiness, food standards, export market access, trade policy.