The European Commission has suggested replacing compulsory set-aside of arable land with locally targeted rural development measures aimed at protecting the environment. The plans were unveiled in November as part of the Commission's "health check" of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. The Commission feels that the EU set-aside scheme, which was originally introduced to curb over-production, is no longer relevant in view of rising demand for cereals and biofuels. However, it wishes to maintain the scheme's environmental benefits. Instead of farmers receiving EU subsidies if they set aside 10% of land, rural development funds would support environmental management of land, water and ecosystems, the Commission suggests. The EU set-aside rate was cut to zero for the 2007/2008 crop sowing season.