Farmers are crucial for our present and future
Thanks to Europe’s agri-food sector, 450 million people have access to safe, healthy, and affordable food.
EU farmers are the backbone of Europe’s food self-sufficiency, and vital drivers of jobs and sustainable growth in rural areas. They are making a central contribution to our collective green transition. At the same time, they face challenges, such as climate change and a competitive global market. They have shown remarkable resilience throughout a pandemic, an energy crisis, the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and high inflation.
We must work together with the men and women in EU farming to secure our food supply for the future. Our farmers face mounting challenges: that is why we want to launch a strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture. I am convinced that agriculture and protection of the natural world can go hand in hand. We need both.
Launch of the Strategic Dialogue
In the face of mounting challenges, the EU is seeking the best ways to support EU farmers, and adapt EU agriculture policies, with their needs in mind.
To deliver on this, as promised in her State of the Union speech in September 2023, President von der Leyen has launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture.
The European Commission is bringing together farmers, local food store owners, European retailers, consumer organisations, environmental groups, financial institutions, and academia to share ideas and listen to farmers’ needs.
Professor Peter Strohschneider has been appointed as chair of the Dialogue, based on his longstanding experience, notably as chair of the Commission for the Future of Agriculture of the Federal government of Germany.
The first meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture, took place on 25 January 2024.
Dates of the plenary meetings:
- Plenary 125 January
- Plenary 211 – 12 March
- Plenary 322 – 23 April
- Plenary 411 – 12 June
- Plenary 59 – 10 July
- Agroecology Europe (AEEU)
- The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)
- BirdLife Europe (BirdLife)
- Conseil Européen des Jeunes Agriculteurs (CEJA)
- European Liaison Committee for Agriculture and agri-food trade (CELCAA)
- European agri-cooperatives (COGECA)
- European farmers (COPA)
- European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB)
- European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC)
- The European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
- European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT)
- European Investment Bank (EIB)
- European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD)
- European Landowners' Organization (ELO)
- European Agricultural Research Initiative (EURAGRI)
- EuroCommerce: retail and wholesale (EuroCommerce)
- Eurogroup for Animals
- European Association of Bio Industries (EuropaBio)
- Euroseeds
- European Food Banks Federation (FEBA)
- Fertilizers Europe
- FoodDrinkEurope
- Food Services Europe (FSE)
- European Employers' Group of Professional Agricultural Organisations (GEOPA)
- Greenpeace Europe
- International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Regional Group (IFOAM Organics Europe)
- Rural Youth Europe
- Slow Food
- Wageningen University
Purpose of the Dialogue
The Dialogue is crucial for developing a joint understanding of the future EU farming and food system. It tackles the following challenges and opportunities:
- How can we give our farmers, and the rural communities they live in, a better perspective, including a fair standard of living?
- How can we support agriculture within the boundaries of our planet and its ecosystem?
- How can we make better use of the immense opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation?
- How can we promote a bright and thriving future for Europe's food system in a competitive world?
The Dialogue is an opportunity to hear the perspectives, ambitions, concerns and solutions of farmers and other key stakeholders from across the agri-food chain, with the aim to find a common ground for the future of the Union’s agri-food sector.
Listen to the latest episode of the #FoodForEurope podcast.
Professor Strohschneider, chair of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, explains:
- The objectives of the discussions
- The steps of this process
- The challenges ahead
On 11 and 12 March, the second plenary meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture took place in Brussels. Launched on 25 January by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Strategic Dialogue is currently fully operational, with the active participation of 29 stakeholders coordinated under the chairmanship of Professor Peter Strohschneider.
What the EU is doing on agriculture
The European Commission has already launched a 5-year support system for farmers in the form of a new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2023. This received €300 billion in funding and includes stronger incentives to help our farmers adopt more sustainable and more resilient practices. Farmers will be paid extra for their yield if they also store carbon.
In their CAP strategic plans, Member States are directing stronger levels of support to those who need it most. For example, more than 10% of EU direct payments, representing €4 billion annually, will be re-allocated to smaller farms. We have also increased emergency support for natural disasters and price shocks.
In 2023 alone, Europe provided exceptional assistance of over €500 million to farmers most affected by crises.
In response to farmers’ concerns, the Commission has presented options to reduce the administrative burden on EU farmers, and is working on actions to improve the position of farmers in the food chain and to improve the enforcement against unfair trading practices. It has also launched two surveys: a first one where farmers and all smaller suppliers across the food supply chain can share their views on their experience with unfair trading practices, and a second one to gather farmers' views on simplifying certain rules and procedures.