Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature Overview Europe’s quality of life depends on a secure and affordable supply of quality local food. We enjoy the healthiest and highest-quality food in the world, and that is thanks to our farms and the wider agri-food sector. The European Commission will work to ensure farming remains a core part of the European way of life and will aim to boost the sustainability and competitiveness of our blue economy.This will go hand in hand with the protection of our natural world, which is home to and an important amenity for many Europeans, while being essential to regulating our climate and ensuring food and water security. Water is a cross-cutting resource necessary for food production, health, infrastructure, ecosystem protection and economy as a whole. As we learn to live with the impacts of our changing climate, we will make sure we continue to adapt to and be better prepared for the challenges that come our way.A look at the numbers 9 millionfarms in the EUMore than 17 millionpeople working in agriculture in the EU€650 billionthe cost of natural hazards in the EU from 1980 to 2022 (of which around 16% in 2021-22) Objectives Over the course of the Commission’s mandate between 2024-2029 and to sustain our quality of life, we will Build a competitive and resilient agriculture and food system and safeguard biodiversityto support our farmers and safeguard our healthy foodAdapt and prepare for a changing climateto be ready and help those affected How we will achieve our objectives To sustain EU citizens' quality of life, the Commission will Build a competitive and resilient agriculture and food system, safeguarding biodiversity The Commission willpresent a Vision for Agriculture and Food to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our farming sectorensure that the EU budget and the EU common agricultural policy are targeted, with the right balance between incentives, investments and regulationsupport family farms and enable farmers to work their land without excessive bureaucracyreward farmers who work with nature, preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems and help to decarbonise our economysupport the competitiveness of our entire food value chain through investment and innovation on farms, in cooperatives, agri-food businesses and SMEsprotect Europe’s food sovereignty, including fisheries in our coastal communitiespropose a European Oceans Pact that will boost the blue economy and ensure the sustainability of our oceansstrengthen Europe’s water security and promote competitiveness of EU’s water industry by presenting a European Water Resilience Strategywork on incentives for nature positive actions and private investments in nature, in particular by developing nature creditswork towards meeting our international biodiversity commitments, such as those taken in the Kunming Montreal Agreement Boost climate adaptation, preparedness and solidarity One of the greatest risks to our security is the impact of climate change. That is why we willaim to develop a European Civil Defence Mechanism, looking at all facets of crisis and disaster management, along community resilience buildingstep up work on climate resilience and preparednessdevelop a European Climate Adaptation Plan, to support Member States with preparedness and planning and ensure regular science-based risk assessments In the spotlight Commission hosts EU Agri-Food DaysBetween 10 and 12 December 2024 the Commission organises the EU Agri-Food Days, an annual event bringing together agri-food system stakeholders, civil society, consumers, academia and policymakers from across the EU. In her opening message, president von der Leyen highlighted the actions taken to improve farmers’ conditions, from cutting administrative burdens to improving their position in the agri-food value chain and introducing incentives for young farmers. The Commission will also soon present a new Vision for Agriculture and Food, looking at how to support the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector.Read more Related topicsAgriculture and rural developmentFarmingStrategic Dialogue on the future of EU agricultureEU actions to enhance global food securityOceans and fisheriesEU civil protection mechanism Who is in chargeOlivér VárhelyiCommissioner for Health and Animal WelfareWopke HoekstraCommissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean GrowthCostas KadisCommissioner for Fisheries and OceansHadja LahbibCommissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis ManagementJessika RoswallCommissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular EconomyChristophe HansenCommissioner for Agriculture and Food Commission departmentsDirectorate-General for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentDirectorate-General for EnvironmentDirectorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid OperationsDirectorate-General for Health and Food SafetyDirectorate-General for Maritime Affairs and FisheriesDirectorate-General for Climate Action The Commission's other prioritiesCompetitivenessSecurity and defenceEuropean social fairnessDemocracy and our valuesA global EuropeEU budget and reform
The Commission willpresent a Vision for Agriculture and Food to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our farming sectorensure that the EU budget and the EU common agricultural policy are targeted, with the right balance between incentives, investments and regulationsupport family farms and enable farmers to work their land without excessive bureaucracyreward farmers who work with nature, preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems and help to decarbonise our economysupport the competitiveness of our entire food value chain through investment and innovation on farms, in cooperatives, agri-food businesses and SMEsprotect Europe’s food sovereignty, including fisheries in our coastal communitiespropose a European Oceans Pact that will boost the blue economy and ensure the sustainability of our oceansstrengthen Europe’s water security and promote competitiveness of EU’s water industry by presenting a European Water Resilience Strategywork on incentives for nature positive actions and private investments in nature, in particular by developing nature creditswork towards meeting our international biodiversity commitments, such as those taken in the Kunming Montreal Agreement
One of the greatest risks to our security is the impact of climate change. That is why we willaim to develop a European Civil Defence Mechanism, looking at all facets of crisis and disaster management, along community resilience buildingstep up work on climate resilience and preparednessdevelop a European Climate Adaptation Plan, to support Member States with preparedness and planning and ensure regular science-based risk assessments
Commission hosts EU Agri-Food DaysBetween 10 and 12 December 2024 the Commission organises the EU Agri-Food Days, an annual event bringing together agri-food system stakeholders, civil society, consumers, academia and policymakers from across the EU. In her opening message, president von der Leyen highlighted the actions taken to improve farmers’ conditions, from cutting administrative burdens to improving their position in the agri-food value chain and introducing incentives for young farmers. The Commission will also soon present a new Vision for Agriculture and Food, looking at how to support the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector.Read more
