The 'Farm to Fork' conference took place on 15 and 16 October 2020 (World Food Day) and was the first in what will be an annual gathering of European stakeholders willing to engage and help shape the EU's path towards sustainable food systems. Stakeholders across the food value chain, public authorities, international and civil society organisations, as well as other citizens and the interested public were invited to join the debate and contribute to the implementation of the recently adopted Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, which is at the heart of the European Green Deal. The event also provided a forum for discussion on the challenges and opportunities linked to the transition to sustainable food systems, as well as on possible further areas of intervention. The 'Farm to Fork' conference was a virtual event and registered participants were able to contribute to the discussion online and meet speakers through virtual networking opportunities. If you missed this event, you can watch the recordings, available on the Farm to fork website. food safety | animal health | foodstuffs legislation | EU food chain | rural development | common agricultural policy | industrial policy | innovation | business policy | single market | consumer policy | digital single market | data protection | cybersecurity | digital transformation | environmental policy | pollution control measures | circular economy | fraud against the EU | fraud prevention | transparency in decision-making | operation of the Institutions | EU institution | international cooperation | sustainable development | integrated maritime policy | fisheries policy | public health | research policy | trade policy Thursday 15 October 2020, 09:00 - Friday 16 October 2020, 12:15 (CEST)Live streaming available Practical information WhenThursday 15 October 2020, 09:00 - Friday 16 October 2020, 12:15 (CEST)WhereWho should attendStakeholders across the food value chain, public authorities, international and civil society organisations, as well as other citizens and the interested public.LanguagesEnglish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, SpanishWebsiteFarm to ForkSocial media linksEU Food Safety#EUFarm2Fork#EUGreenDeal Description AgendaDAY 1, Thursday 15 October 2020Webstreaming (09:00 – 12:30)Live transmission will start approximately 15-20 minutes before 09:00.Interpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.09:00 - 09:10Welcome and opening remarks by Chris Burns, Master of ceremonies09:10 – 09:25Opening remarks by European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans09:25 - 10:05Opening Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and interactive Q&A session10:05 - 10:10Short break10:10 – 10:25Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit: achieving global transition to sustainable food systems10:25 – 10:40Short break10:40 - 12:10Working together to transform our food systemsRemarks by German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner.An interactive session of debate with high-level actors from the public and private sectors:Anja Hazekamp, Member of the European ParliamentHerbert Dorfmann, Member of the European ParliamentGuido Milana, Member of the European Committee of the Regions and Member of Olevano Romano Municipal Council in ItalyAnnelise Fenger, Deputy Director General at Danish Veterinary and Food AdministrationEster Asin Martinez, Director at WWF European Policy OfficeMonique Goyens, Director General at BEUC - the European Consumer OrganisationTriin Kõrgmaa, CEO at AS SalvestPekka Pesonen, Secretary General at Copa-Cogeca12:10 - 12:20Closing remarks12:30 – 18:00Virtual networking sessions DAY 2, Friday 16 October 2020 (World Food Day)Webstreaming (09:00 – 12:30)Live transmission will start approximately 15-20 minutes before 09:00.Interpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.Kindly note that there are separate webstreaming links for the parallel sessions starting at 10:30.09:00 – 09:10Welcome back & highlights from Day 1 by Chris Burns, Master of ceremonies09:10 – 09:40In focus: how reshaping the EU food system can start in our kitchenRoberto Flore, Head of DTU Skylab FoodLab at DTU Technical University of Denmark09:40 – 09:45Short break09:45 – 10:15Consumer attitudes and views on sustainable food systemsThe presentation will integrate findings from a new Eurobarometer on consumer views on sustainable food systems.Klaus G. Grunert, Professor at Aarhus University, MAPP Centre10:15 – 10:30Short break10:30 – 12:00Parallel thematic workshopsSession 1: Building an EU legislative framework for sustainable food systemsWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationWhat are the building blocks for such a framework? An interactive debate between public and private sector actors involved in systemic initiatives to promote food sustainability. Experts in governance, Member State and food industry representatives will discuss the essential components of an EU legislative framework and how it can accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems.Moderator: Olivier De Schutter, Co-chair at International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) and UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rightsSpeakers:Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of FinlandMarco Settembri, Executive Vice-President at Nestlé S.A. and President at FoodDrinkEuropeOndina Afonso, Head of Quality & Research / Chair Continente Producers Club at Sonae MCMáximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Session 2: Economic opportunities for farmersWebstreamingInterpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.What are promising green business opportunities for farmers? The session will discuss concrete opportunities, as well as challenges, that the transition to sustainable food systems encompasses for farmers and how they can benefit from the higher standards that will apply at the farm through higher returns. The session will highlight and discuss examples of sustainable farming practices.Moderator: Chris BurnsSpeakers:Enrico Amico, President at AMICO Bio Coop. AgricolaKristian Eriknauer, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility at Arla FoodsJean-Louis Peyraud, Deputy Scientific Director Agriculture at INRAEAlain Mathieu, President CIGComtéSession 3: Helping consumers choose healthy diets from sustainable food systems and reduce food wasteWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationHow can we help consumers choose healthy diets and reduce food waste? The session will focus on how the food environment and food information can help consumers make better food choices for their health and for the planet. Speakers will debate consumers' expectations regarding food sustainability and the drivers of consumer behaviour in this regard, effectiveness of labelling schemes as well as opportunities for action for food businesses and public authorities to help consumers choose more sustainable diets.Moderator: Katrina Sichel, Moderator at Wit and Word CommunicationsSpeakers:Emely de Vet, Professor and chair Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen UniversityVeronika Pountcheva, Global Director Corporate Responsibility & Senior Vice President at METRO AGEleni Alevritou, President at Consumer Association the Quality of Life-EKPIZOSession 4: New knowledge and innovation solutions for sustainable farmingWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationHow can we support farmers to innovate sustainably? This session will discuss the best ways to implement Research and Innovation activities and maximise the impact of advisory services to speed up the transition to sustainable food systems from farm to fork. Successful Horizon 2020 projects and/or concrete solutions to deliver on the Farm to Fork targets/objectives will be showcased.Moderators:Kerstin Rosenow, Head of Unit - Research and Innovation at Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentMarc Duponcel, Head of Sector - Research Programme Officer at Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentVideo Presenters:Bram Moeskops, Research & Innovation Manager at IFOAM Organics Europe,Coordinator of thematic networks OK-Net-Feed & OK-Net-Arable and the LIVESEED projectØyvind Overskeid, Chairman of the board at Adigo AS, SME Instrument project ASTERIXFrederik Leen, Post doctoral Research Associate at Flanders Research Instituter for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Coordinator of thematic network DISARMVictor Riau Arenas, Researcher at IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology), Coordinator of R&I project Circular AgronomicsPanel Speakers:Doris Letina, Vice-President at CEJA, young farmerAnikó Juchasz, Deputy State Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture in Hungary and co-chair of AKISMonika Beck, Head of Rural Development & Environment Department at ADEIsabel Carvalhais, Member of the European Parliament12:00 – 12:20Closing Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski12:30 – 18:00Virtual networking sessions Partner Event12:15 – 14:30Food 2030 - Transforming food systems through Research & InnovationDirectorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, in partnership with theFood and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and theGerman EU presidency.This online event – on World Food Day - brings together researchers, innovators, policy makers, stakeholders and civil society for a high level discussion on the transition to sustainable food systems, and more specifically, on the key role of research and innovation therein.More information & registrations: Related links Policies Food safety Related events26-29Jan2026Conferences and summitsEU-Bhutan Business Forum15-17Dec2025Conferences and summitsEU Agri-Food DaysBelgium29Oct2025Conferences and summitsEuropean Startup Village Forum 2025See all
AgendaDAY 1, Thursday 15 October 2020Webstreaming (09:00 – 12:30)Live transmission will start approximately 15-20 minutes before 09:00.Interpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.09:00 - 09:10Welcome and opening remarks by Chris Burns, Master of ceremonies09:10 – 09:25Opening remarks by European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans09:25 - 10:05Opening Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and interactive Q&A session10:05 - 10:10Short break10:10 – 10:25Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit: achieving global transition to sustainable food systems10:25 – 10:40Short break10:40 - 12:10Working together to transform our food systemsRemarks by German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klöckner.An interactive session of debate with high-level actors from the public and private sectors:Anja Hazekamp, Member of the European ParliamentHerbert Dorfmann, Member of the European ParliamentGuido Milana, Member of the European Committee of the Regions and Member of Olevano Romano Municipal Council in ItalyAnnelise Fenger, Deputy Director General at Danish Veterinary and Food AdministrationEster Asin Martinez, Director at WWF European Policy OfficeMonique Goyens, Director General at BEUC - the European Consumer OrganisationTriin Kõrgmaa, CEO at AS SalvestPekka Pesonen, Secretary General at Copa-Cogeca12:10 - 12:20Closing remarks12:30 – 18:00Virtual networking sessions DAY 2, Friday 16 October 2020 (World Food Day)Webstreaming (09:00 – 12:30)Live transmission will start approximately 15-20 minutes before 09:00.Interpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.Kindly note that there are separate webstreaming links for the parallel sessions starting at 10:30.09:00 – 09:10Welcome back & highlights from Day 1 by Chris Burns, Master of ceremonies09:10 – 09:40In focus: how reshaping the EU food system can start in our kitchenRoberto Flore, Head of DTU Skylab FoodLab at DTU Technical University of Denmark09:40 – 09:45Short break09:45 – 10:15Consumer attitudes and views on sustainable food systemsThe presentation will integrate findings from a new Eurobarometer on consumer views on sustainable food systems.Klaus G. Grunert, Professor at Aarhus University, MAPP Centre10:15 – 10:30Short break10:30 – 12:00Parallel thematic workshopsSession 1: Building an EU legislative framework for sustainable food systemsWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationWhat are the building blocks for such a framework? An interactive debate between public and private sector actors involved in systemic initiatives to promote food sustainability. Experts in governance, Member State and food industry representatives will discuss the essential components of an EU legislative framework and how it can accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems.Moderator: Olivier De Schutter, Co-chair at International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) and UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rightsSpeakers:Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of FinlandMarco Settembri, Executive Vice-President at Nestlé S.A. and President at FoodDrinkEuropeOndina Afonso, Head of Quality & Research / Chair Continente Producers Club at Sonae MCMáximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Session 2: Economic opportunities for farmersWebstreamingInterpretation is available in EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, PL and EL. Please choose the language from your video player.What are promising green business opportunities for farmers? The session will discuss concrete opportunities, as well as challenges, that the transition to sustainable food systems encompasses for farmers and how they can benefit from the higher standards that will apply at the farm through higher returns. The session will highlight and discuss examples of sustainable farming practices.Moderator: Chris BurnsSpeakers:Enrico Amico, President at AMICO Bio Coop. AgricolaKristian Eriknauer, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility at Arla FoodsJean-Louis Peyraud, Deputy Scientific Director Agriculture at INRAEAlain Mathieu, President CIGComtéSession 3: Helping consumers choose healthy diets from sustainable food systems and reduce food wasteWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationHow can we help consumers choose healthy diets and reduce food waste? The session will focus on how the food environment and food information can help consumers make better food choices for their health and for the planet. Speakers will debate consumers' expectations regarding food sustainability and the drivers of consumer behaviour in this regard, effectiveness of labelling schemes as well as opportunities for action for food businesses and public authorities to help consumers choose more sustainable diets.Moderator: Katrina Sichel, Moderator at Wit and Word CommunicationsSpeakers:Emely de Vet, Professor and chair Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen UniversityVeronika Pountcheva, Global Director Corporate Responsibility & Senior Vice President at METRO AGEleni Alevritou, President at Consumer Association the Quality of Life-EKPIZOSession 4: New knowledge and innovation solutions for sustainable farmingWebstreamingThis session will be held in English without interpretationHow can we support farmers to innovate sustainably? This session will discuss the best ways to implement Research and Innovation activities and maximise the impact of advisory services to speed up the transition to sustainable food systems from farm to fork. Successful Horizon 2020 projects and/or concrete solutions to deliver on the Farm to Fork targets/objectives will be showcased.Moderators:Kerstin Rosenow, Head of Unit - Research and Innovation at Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentMarc Duponcel, Head of Sector - Research Programme Officer at Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentVideo Presenters:Bram Moeskops, Research & Innovation Manager at IFOAM Organics Europe,Coordinator of thematic networks OK-Net-Feed & OK-Net-Arable and the LIVESEED projectØyvind Overskeid, Chairman of the board at Adigo AS, SME Instrument project ASTERIXFrederik Leen, Post doctoral Research Associate at Flanders Research Instituter for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Coordinator of thematic network DISARMVictor Riau Arenas, Researcher at IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology), Coordinator of R&I project Circular AgronomicsPanel Speakers:Doris Letina, Vice-President at CEJA, young farmerAnikó Juchasz, Deputy State Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture in Hungary and co-chair of AKISMonika Beck, Head of Rural Development & Environment Department at ADEIsabel Carvalhais, Member of the European Parliament12:00 – 12:20Closing Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski12:30 – 18:00Virtual networking sessions Partner Event12:15 – 14:30Food 2030 - Transforming food systems through Research & InnovationDirectorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, in partnership with theFood and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and theGerman EU presidency.This online event – on World Food Day - brings together researchers, innovators, policy makers, stakeholders and civil society for a high level discussion on the transition to sustainable food systems, and more specifically, on the key role of research and innovation therein.More information & registrations:
