The agri-food sector faced unpreceded challenges in 2020. Under the spotlight during the pandemic, it emerged as a strategic success for Europe, meeting consumer demand and avoiding food shortages. From the Farm to the Fork, all actors in the sector’s global supply chain – short or complex – adapted and showed resilience.
But looking long-term, much still needs to be done to meet the EU Green Deal’s objectives and ensure a transition to a more sustainable food system. Achieving a green global agriculture system while maintaining a secure and competitive economy won’t be easy, if the EU goes it alone.
Key questions to be addressed include:
- One year after the pandemic, what are the opportunities to strengthen the resilience, safety, sustainability and productivity of EU agricultural and food production system? What lessons can Europe draw from the crisis?
- How should Europe take the lead to promote a global sustainable transition?
- What is the role of the agriculture and food sector in supporting Europe’s sustainable economic recovery?
- What needs to change in Europe’s agriculture and food industry to reach the ambitions of the EU Green Deal? Do farmers and producers have the right tools?
- Eco-schemes are the CAP reform’s flagship innovation: How should they be designed, funded and made attractive to farmers?
- The European Commission wants to foster nature-based solutions. What are they? And how should gene-editing figure in the EU’s plans?
In light of the European Commission’s recent EU agricultural outlook and the Portuguese Presidency priorities for the digitalization of the sector, POLITICO will take a deep dive into the challenges and innovations to strengthen the resilience, safety, sustainability and productivity of EU agricultural and food production system for the next seven years.
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