Agriculture and rural development

What the EU does

The EU enjoys the healthiest and highest-quality food in the world, and that is thanks to our farms and the wider agri-food sector. To maintain this, the European Commission works to ensure sustainable, competitive, resilient EU agriculture and lively rural areas.

The EU’s main agriculture policy objectives are to

ensure farmers get a better revenue from the market to produce sufficient quantities of safe food, respecting EU rules on sustainability, animal welfare, traceability, etc.
provide farm businesses with support systems to help stabilise their incomes in the face of less predictable production conditions
make farming attractive to encourage young people to join
facilitate investment in an innovative, competitive, sustainable farming sector
maintain viable rural communities, with diverse economies
create and maintaining jobs throughout the food chain

Key figures

9.1 million

farms in the EU in 2020

377 000

young farmers set to start agricultural activities as part of actions promoting generational renewal

€228.6 billion

EU exports reached in 2023 with key drivers including cereal preparations, dairy products, and wine

^Source:^{CAP Strategic Plans 2023-2027}

Areas of action

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

How the EU supports its farmers and Europe’s food security

EU actions to address farmers’ concerns

EU farmers are the backbone of Europe’s food self-sufficiency: how the EU is responding to their concerns

Promotion of EU farm products

EU producers are selling their farm products in an increasingly competitive global marketplace: what the EU is doing to help

Strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture

The EU’s vision for the future of EU's farming and food systems

Organic farming

Read more about EU policy, rules, certifications, and support for this sector

Achievements CAP 2019-22

What the Common Agricultural Policy has done to meet EU farmers’ needs and support rural areas

Young farmers

How the EU can help you develop your farm

Geographical indications and quality schemes

How the EU protects and promotes the origins, traditions and unique characteristics of distinctive EU products

Rural vision

Rural areas are the fabric of our society: what the EU’s long-term vision does to protect them

Key achievements

The common agricultural policy supports the EU’s food and farm sector, one of the major sectors of the economy, which provides some 8.7 million jobs in agriculture, with 17 million people working in the sector.
There are around 3 400 recognised producer organisations, which help smaller farms increase their market power, in the EU. Half of these are operating in the fruit and vegetable production sector.
The EU is working to support 6 million beneficiaries across the EU to provide high-quality food to 450 million Europeans.
The total CAP budget for the 2023-27 period is €307 billion (€264 billion of EU funds and €43 billion of national funds).

In focus

The Commission’s vision for the future of agriculture and food

Farmers are today facing challenges such as rising costs, climate change, and supply chain disruptions. To help them overcome these challenges, the Commission has set out its plans to build a fair and competitive food system that provides affordable and sustainable food for everyone. Its vision for the future of farming and food production in the EU is based on four key areas of action: the work envisioned will make the agriculture sector more attractive, competitive, and future-proof, and will value food and people. The EU will be working closely with farmers, food producers, rural communities, and civil society to make this vision a reality.

Learn more