FARM to FORK: TOWARDS a SUSTAINABLE and RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM in EUROPE the European Investment Bank SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT for CLIMATE and ENVIRONMENT

November 2020 - n°64

FARM TO FORK: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN EUROPE The European Investment Bank SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT FOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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FARM TO FORK: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN EUROPE

he global demand for food will EU consumers while meeting the highest envi- perspective, this means reshaping the policy increase in the future. By 2050, ronmental and food safety standards without framework regulating food chains, while T two billion more people will need hindering the competitiveness of European from a more local and individual perspective, to be fed on Earth. But is it feasible without farmers and the food industry... An extremely this means changing agricultural practices, exceeding the planet’s limits? The environ- sensitive and delicate task that will require a adapting the food industry, and switching our mental pressure posed by our food system balanced and carefully measured approach. consumption habits. is already tremendous and should not be underestimated. While a radical transformation of our The EU will need to redesign its entire food food system is needed to make our society system, literally from farm to fork, to make Agriculture is among the greatest con- more sustainable and resilient, one should it future-proof. Driving the necessary policy tributors to greenhouse gas emissions while not overlook the strong and complex social, change, supporting research and innovation, being at the same time heavily impacted by economic and ecological implications. Can the investing in new technologies, encouraging the effects of climate change. Farming is EU overcome such a big challenge? Will EU sustainable farming practices which do not also the largest user of our precious water policymakers manage to solve Europe’s food necessarily involve massive use of synthetic resources while being a major polluter dilemma? fertilisers and pesticides, will all be critical Tthat contributes to accelerating the loss of to achieve a competitive, sustainable, and biodiversity. Last May, the European Commission resilient food system in Europe. decided to tackle this huge challenge with its Meanwhile, European consumers have Farm-to-Fork Strategy and address the weak- The reform of EU agriculture and fisheries become more and more demanding with the nesses of our food system to sustainably feed policies offers great opportunities to develop quality of the food they eat, as they should 450 million European citizens and preserve the needed resilience and sustainability. Some be. They want healthier food and expect our environment from potential harmful trade-offs will most likely be necessary and greater transparency and traceability. In this effects. these should be carefully assessed to avoid regard, better labelling regarding both health threatening Europe’s food security. For sure, and environmental impacts of food products Breaking down silos by adopting a holistic tough political negotiations lie ahead of this will also play an important role in promoting approach, the new cross-cutting strategy strategy but Europe’s consensual spirit will, more informed consumer choice. outlines the main policy orientations to reduce as always, be the key to unlock positive the environmental footprint of our food while outcomes for the greater interest. Figures show that the global organic food encouraging healthier diets. Thus, the Farm- and drink market has grown rapidly over to-Fork strategy is not just about agriculture, Editorial by the last years and will continue to grow in it is also about climate, environment, health, Laurent Ulmann & the next decade . European consumers have digital, competitiveness, and jobs. Cyrille Mai Thanh become more environmentally aware leading to increase significantly the sales of organic Increasing food productivity in a sus- Editor-in-Chief food products. tainable way will not be enough to meet the LAURENT ULMANN growing food demand. The EU will also need Moreover, Europe is torn between the need to change from linear food consumption to of maintaining food at an affordable price for a more circular economy. From a European

Management: The European Files / Les Dossiers Européens - 19 rue Lincoln, 1180 Brussels www.europeanfiles.eu - ISSN 1636-6085 - email: [email protected] Publication Director and Editor-in-Chief: Laurent ULMANN Layout & printing: VAN RUYS PRINTING Copyright: Shutterstock, European Commission, Cover : Photo de Christian Heitz provenant de Pexels TABLE OF CONTENTS FARM TO FORK: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN EUROPE

The food chain: paving the way to formulating a more Covid-19 shows an industry up for the farm sustainable, healthy and quality food policy 6 to fork challenge 16 Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Mella Frewen, FoodDrinkEurope Director General

Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Yes! The relocalisation of food supply chains can – the key role of the Common Agricultural Policy 7 lead to food security in the European Union and Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture to a healthier planet 17 Sarah Wiener, MEP (Greens Group), Member AGRI The future Common Agricultural Policy: committee How to combine food security with strong environmental protection and climate change mitigation 8 Support and maintain agricultural activity, Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister of essential to the food autonomy of our continent 18 Food and Agriculture Anne Sander, MEP (EPP Group), Member of the AGRI Committee Shaping a new rural vision for Europe 10 Dacian Ciolos, MEP (Renew Europe Group- Chair) The huge challenges of ‘Fourche à la Fourchette’ 19 Eric Andrieu,MEP (S&D Group), Ensuring sustainable, safe, affordable and Member of the AGRI Committee quality food in Europe 11 Norbert Lins, MEP (EPP Group), Chair of Committee of Restoring biodiversity to its natural place 20 Agriculture and Rural Areas, European Parliament Patrick ten Brink, EU Policy Director, European Environmental Bureau Farm-to-Fork beyond bold claims - the strategy must deliver for the planet, consumers and farmers alike 12 Farmers and the “Farm to Fork” Strategy 22 Ulrike Muller, MEP (Renew Europe Group), Jeremy Decerle, MEP (Renew Europe Group), Member of the AGRI Committee- Rapporteur of CAP Member of the AGRI Committee

The role of farmers and their cooperation with Thinking Europe again, thinking rural, other food chain actors in delivering on Farm to Fork thinking human 23 sustainability objectives 13 Franc Bogovič, MEP (EPP Group), Christiane Lambert, Copa President Member of the REGI Committee

Transition to sustainable food systems 14 Marion Jansen, Director, Trade and Agriculture, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development FARM TO FORK: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN EUROPE

What type of logistics is needed to have fresh products Farm to Fork Strategy: an opportunity to rethink and development on a metropolitan, regional and the role of packaging in the transition towards European scale? 24 sustainable food systems 34 Bruno Cassette, Director General, Lille Metropole (MEL) Jean Hornain, CEO of CITEO Didier Delmotte, General Manager EURALIMENTAIRE BBI JU - launching the circular bio-based Isabelle Wisniewski, Innovation manager EURALIMENTAIRE economy in Europe 36 Philippe Mengal, Executive Director of Bio-based Industries How to guarantee food security and sovereignty Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) in Europe by reducing the use of pesticides 26 Irène Tolleret, MEP (Renew Europe Group) What measures should be taken in terms of Member of the AGRI Committee innovation, in order to achieve the F2F goals? 37 Paolo De Castro, MEP (S&D Group) A coherent European Green Deal for the Member of the AGRI Committee next generations 27 Volker Koch-Achelpohler, Head Public Affairs, Science and Ensuring Product Safety and Physical Sustainability for EMEA, Bayer AG CropScience Divison Traceability Is Crucial 38 Jean-Pierre Massicot, CEO of ATT From River 2 Farm 2 Fork, and back 28 Oliver Loebel, EurEau Secretary General How to make food trade work for consumers and the planet 40 Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors to Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General make the food system resilient 29 Pierre Karleskind, MEP (Renew Europe Group), PLANETARY DIETS: the Power is on our plates, Chair of the PECH committee and on our food policies! 41 Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist for WWF Redesigning Our Food System To Make It Future-Proof 30 Jabier Ruiz, Senior Policy Officer, Agriculture and Food, Carine Kraus, Sustainable Development & WWF-European Policy Office Public Affairs Director - Veolia

Investing in food system resilience 32 Farm to Fork and the urgent need for a food transformation 42 Cindy Venho, Research Analyst, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Lena Rohn, Animal Protection Denmark Board representative, Eurogroup for Animals (Animal Welfare association) 6 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe The food chain: paving the way to formulating a more sustainable, healthy and quality STELLA KYRIAKIDES Commissioner for Health and Food Safety food policy

ess than a month ago, I was privileged achieving the Green Deal’s climate goals, it will Whilst transformational moments create to host the first of what will become contribute to a greener food production. It sets costs – they should not create winners and L our annual Farm to Fork Conference, out a clear course with ambitious objectives losers. We need to support our farmers and gathering people from all the sectors involved and concrete targets to transform the EU food fishers in this transition, and we intend to do in the food chain, from farmers to consumers. system. Indeed, by 2030, we want to see the so. No one will be left behind. Our ambition One issue clearly stood out from our dis- use of pesticides and antimicrobials as well as is to help primary producers strengthen their cussions: people want change. We need to nutrient losses reduced by 50% and the share position in the supply chain and to capture a make the way we produce and consume our of organic agriculture to reach 25%. fair share of the benefit of sustainable - pro food more in tune with our health, our society duction. To support the transition, policies and our planet. We will do this hand-in-hand with stake- such as the Common Agricultural Policy will holders, ensuring that all necessary support continue to help, in particular, to offset the These are indeed challenging times to to achieve these ambitious targets is given. costs of changing practices. In addition, we will embark on change. The COVID-19 pandemic We will transform food production and make it take actions to transfer costs from sustainable has already had a major impact on our lives sustainable. Apart from these targets the Farm options to the less sustainable. and will make us rethink our habits. What to Fork Strategy also puts forward a list of 27 started out as healthcare crisis has turned into EU-level actions to spearhead our progress We know that investment will be necessary a global recession with ramifications for many towards sustainable food systems. These to encourage innovation and create sustainable sectors – including our farming sector and our range from food labelling, food waste animal food systems. We have made €10 billion food industry. This is coupled with the effects welfare and promoting the global transition. available for research and innovation, to of climate change that are becoming ever- support and accelerate this transition, to increasingly apparent, with annual droughts, We know that our citizens prefer healthy develop biological pesticides, natural resources floods, forest fires and new pests threatening and sustainably sourced food, and we will as well as the use of digital and nature-based our food system and our economy. It is more make sure that they have such options at all solutions for food production. Ultimately, we than ever clear that we must become more times, while also providing sufficient infor- aim to be able to bank on our sustainability sustainable and resilient, and we have no time mation to make the right food choices. We will turning this cost into a competitive advantage to waste. Business as usual is no longer an also provide clear and easily understandable for Europe’s farmers, fishers and food - pro option. information on the contents of their food: how ducers by sustainability leaders on the global it has been produced and how it affects the stage. The figures speak for themselves. - Agri environment. A recent survey1 showed that culture is responsible for over 10% of the European citizens expect a lot from all of us. As we work to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. We are Most of them believe that producers (farmers, I am convinced that with our Farm to Fork being inefficient and unethical, wasting a fifth fisheries etc.) and food manufacturers are key Strategy we have laid down the foundation of the food we produce while 36 million EU actors in making our food systems sustainable, for creating a better, stronger and fairer food citizens cannot afford a quality meal every above public authorities. In addition to this, system. For us to continue building on this day. We are throwing food away while others Europeans also think that information on food foundation we need everyone’s commitment. starve. Our health care costs keep mounting sustainability should be compulsory on food We will all sink or swim together - there are as over 50% of the EU adult population is labels, and that producers and food companies no opt outs in climate change or planetary overweight whilst, globally, nearly 690 million should themselves raise their products’ sus- degradation. The cost of doing nothing in the people go hungry every night. Food production tainability standards. This is a clear sign that way we produce, distribute and consume food systems not only overburden the environment, this is change that comes from the bottom up will be significantly greater. The transition to they also fail to deliver on our social objectives. – it has been demanded by our citizens. sustainable food systems is our collective We need to change. responsibility. As I witnessed a few weeks ago, the appetite for change is there and I would like

Farm to Fork will be a transformational 1 EB 505 Making our food fit for the future – as many as possible to join us at the table. moment for the Union. At the heart of Citizen’s expectations Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 7 Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe – the key role of the Common JANUSZ WOJCIECHOWSKI Commissioner for Agriculture Agricultural Policy

he Covid-19 crisis and the related lockdown The CAP’s nine common objectives, set at EU environmental farming practices and standards measures reminded us all of the crucial level, tackle economic, environmental and social already enshrined in EU legislation. Timportance of food security, a given for challenges. Ensuring fair income for farmers, pre- In addition, the future CAP introduces a new the past decades in the EU. The European Com- serving landscapes and biodiversity, rebalancing system, the so-called eco-schemes, available mission worked alongside Member States and power in the food supply chain, climate change under the direct payments framework. The eco- the agri-food sector to find quick and efficient action - these are just a few examples. They are schemes aim to reward farmers for going even solutions, and ensured that food was available all fundamental in ensuring that the policy con- further in the implementation of sustainable across the EU. The agri-food sector proved its tinues to deliver and helps the sector to achieve agricultural practices, beyond the mandatory resilience. Nonetheless, this crisis has highlighted the transition towards sustainable food systems. requirements set by conditionality. These the necessity to make our food systems more Furthermore, the future CAP includes CAP practices could include the implementation of sustainable, which will lead to further resilience national strategic plans that will allow for more environmentally friendly production systems on the medium and long term. flexibility in the implementation of the CAP while such as agroecology, precision farming and Presented in May 2020 by the European being better adapted to the local conditions and organic farming. Mandatory for Member States Commission, the Farm to fork strategy aims at needs of each Member State. Each Member State to propose, the eco-schemes will be voluntary making our food system more sustainable. This will have to produce a national strategic plan to for farmers to join. Member states will design and transition will safeguard food security, ensure explain how they will achieve the CAP objectives. choose to offer one or more eco-schemes based access to healthy diets, reduce the environmental The idea is for member states to analyse their on local conditions and needs. situation and territory in terms of strengths, The rural development framework includes and climate footprint of the EU food system, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT environmental and climate management com- while also ensuring the livelihoods of all the analysis) and link it to their needs. Based on this mitments. Similarly, they aim to restore, preserve operators of our food supply chain. It is important analysis, member states will explain how they and enhance ecosystems, promote resource to remember the three dimensions of sustain- will implement CAP instruments to achieve these efficiency, and move towards a low-carbon and ability – environmental, social and economic. If objectives. For the first time, member states will climate-resilient economy by compensating we want to achieve this transition, we will have to have to develop a single strategic approach in farmers and other beneficiaries for voluntarily take all three into account, leaving no one behind. the use of all CAP instruments and ensure their committing themselves to implement sus- The strategy sets concrete targets to synergies. tainable practices. transform the EU’s food system, including a To ensure that these plans are in line with Technology and innovation will also have key reduction by 50% of the use and risk of pes- the Farm to fork strategy, the European Com- a role to play in this transition. Both have already ticides, a reduction by at least 20% of the use of mission has put in place a structured dialogue started to change the agricultural landscape: fertilizers, a reduction by 50% in sales of anti- with Member States who are already in the from publically available satellite data to pre- microbials used for farmed animals and aqua- preparatory phase of the CAP strategic plans. cision farming tools, a more efficient use of culture, and reaching 25% of agricultural land The Commission will provide recommendations natural resources is possible while improving under organic farming. To reach these targets, to Member states based on an analysis of each production. However, innovation does not only the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will play Member State’s situation, taking into account the include digital and technological advances. By a crucial role. strategy’s targets. improving our understanding of how nature and The future CAP aims to shift the policy’s Furthermore, the future CAP includes several ecosystems work, of how plants, animals and emphasis towards results and performance, tools that aim to increase the overall environ- trees interact, we can design more innovative, rather than compliance and rules. In addition, mental performance of EU agriculture and con- sustainable farming systems. The European the proposals are built around key priorities: tribute to the transition towards sustainable food Commission will support the sector and its simplifying and modernising the CAP and better systems. actors, by making the right tools available responding to European agriculture’s emerging Among those, conditionality replaces the but also by investing heavily in research and challenges at an economic, environmental current CAP’s cross-compliance and greening innovation to continue and further develop and social level, which are only reinforced by with a more ambitious approach. Area and sustainable agricultural systems. Finally, the the current crisis arising from the coronavirus animal-based CAP payments will be linked key step will be to make this knowledge widely outbreak. to a range of obligations, including good available and accessible to all. 8 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe

The future Common Agricultural Policy: How to combine food security with strong environmental

JULIA KLÖCKNER protection and climate German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture change mitigation

he Common European Agricultural all those involved that an agreement was by agreeing on a minimum budget for eco- Policy (CAP) is becoming more sus- achieved to henceforth link 100 percent of schemes and higher requirements for direct T tainable: This is the central message the direct payments to tighter environmental support. This significant step-up of environ- of the agreement the European Agriculture and climate requirements for all European mental services will make a tangible contri- Ministers reached over the past month under member states. They include obligations for bution to more climate change mitigation the German EU Council Presidency. It also agricultural land, for instance on minimum and environmental protection. The post-2020 ensures that the agricultural sector continues levels of protection for moorland and CAP therefore mainly targets sustainability- to fulfil its core responsibility: food security wetlands and on the establishment of exclu- orientated production. for 450 million consumers in the 27 European sively non-productive fallow sites to secure member states. The agreement of the Agri- biodiversity. In addition to that, it will from now Direct payments will be made con- culture Council is therefore a breakthrough on be binding for all European Union Member tingent on production practices for Europe’s agricultural policy, because it States that at least 20 per cent of the direct Direct aid schemes continue to play a crucial combines environmental protection and payments are used for eco-schemes for addi- role in cushioning fluctuations in farm prices, climate change mitigation with food and tional environmental services. This includes securing farmers’ income and thus providing nutrition security. It also provides planning the additional establishment of fallow land planning certainty with respect to food and certainty for our farmers. For the first time and blossoming areas to protect insects and nutrition security. They also provide financial in the history of the European Union, the fol- water bodies, the selection of diverse crop compensation for the high standards in envi- lowing principle applies: There has to be a varieties to foster species diversity and the ronmental protection, animal welfare and quid pro quo. It is therefore a system change, promotion of extensive grazing. Key elements consumer protection that apply to European a success for the environment and the of the Green Deal and hence also of the farmers, which are significantly higher than in climate, for our farmers, for rural areas and Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity some non-EU countries. We need to be willing for European consumers. Strategy were also fleshed out, for instance to pay for these high standards.

Minimum budget for eco-schemes It has been clear for a long time that environmental protection/climate change mitigation and an income-securing, high- yielding agricultural sector are not mutually exclusive. With the new CAP, however, agriculture will perform even better. At least 40 per cent of its funds need to be used for achieving climate goals. This is a significantly higher value compared with other EU policies. The introduction of a binding, Europe-wide minimum budget for the eco-schemes plays an important role in this regard. This was not included in the European Commission’s original proposals and was pushed through by the German EU Council Presidency in the face of considerable resistance. The environmental and climatic conditions under which farms operate in the European Union, however, differ considerably between countries in some cases. Therefore it is a major joint achievement of Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 9

In this case, too, our approach is funda- on how to implement the rules. This is the mentally new: direct payments to producers only way that countries will be able to adapt are no longer linked only to land own- the mandatory, EU-wide requirements and ership; instead, they depend on agricultural implement them successfully. practices. Those who comply with basic environmental and management standards on Initiating a system change in the more land are eligible for these payments. European agricultural sector If you provide more services, you get more, The European Union’s future Common Agri- if you provide fewer services you get less or cultural Policy will secure the future: for our nothing at all. environment, our climate and our farmers. And hence also the future of our food and We want the farming sector to be prof- nutrition. Because protecting the environment itable, now and in the future. Therefore, we and mitigating climate change are the prereq- also decided that at least 2 percent of the uisites for us to be able to continue to produce national direct payments budget must in adequate, safe food in the future. future be used to support young farmers, This means initiating a system change who may receive a payment for young in the European agricultural sector. By farmers and/or start-up assistance. It is strengthening the farming sector in the important to offer young farmers attractive European member states, we are also pro- prospects by providing incentives and viding support to sustain strong regional pro- making it easier for young people to get duction in Europe. In this way, we will not only started in agriculture. For investing in the conserve resources and secure the supply future of agriculture today means securing of food in the European internal market; we tomorrow’s food and nutrition. will also strengthen both our rural areas and our European supply chains, which have Flexibility thanks to national strategy already proven their worth during the ongoing plans pandemic. The common goal is clear: to strengthen After all, the Council’s agreement on the an income-securing, high-yielding and at the future Common Agricultural Policy also sends same time resource-conserving agricultural an important signal to European citizens in sector to secure our food and nutrition. times of rising national interests, because it The broad consensus on this common goal stands for strengthening European cohesion, notwithstanding, the national specificities for shared European values and hence for a of the individual member states need to be united Europe. In the forthcoming trilogue appropriately taken into account. There is no procedure with the European Parliament and “one size fits all” approach in this case. We the European Commission, the German EU will only be successful if we acknowledge Council Presidency will vigorously defend the the specific conditions in each member state. ambitious Council mandate, in particular on Therefore, it is planned to have national environmental protection and climate change strategy plans in the future to give the mitigation. respective countries the necessary flexibility 10 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Shaping a new rural vision for Europe

DACIAN CIOLOS MEP (Renew Europe Group- Chair)

ur rural life is the cornerstone of service gap and launching a renew economic attractive kind of agriculture for a new gen- our Continent and represents beau- prospect for our countryside. Agriculture, eration of farmers. O tifully the greatest symbol of our food and health potential, culture and The Parliament has given a political European pledge « United in our Diversity ». tourism, solutions to the climate and energy dimension to a Commission proposal that These unique reservoirs of social, economic challenges are some of the unique levers on was initially mainly administrative. We are on and environmental innovation and transfor- which Europe can build a strong new vision for course to better support farmers who face mation are only waiting to be used to their its rural areas. New hard and soft investments major changes in their profession, particularly full potential. But these communities are need to be co-designed with rural commu- in terms of the green and digital transitions. faced with major struggles. Farmers, rural nities to reflect their needs and to seize these Now the negotiations will start with the enterprises and start-ups already challenged opportunities: Council. by global market trends and competition are › Digital Agenda. Digital innovation is Those that are constantly asking for the now dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. essential to cope with many of the reform to be rejected, rather than rolling up The future cannot just be urban. Envi- impacts of the crisis and will be equally their sleeves and building a compromise, are ronmental and climate challenges, biodi- important for recovery and the reor- simply irresponsible. Their ideological stance versity loss, digital connectivity gaps and ganisation of rural- urban relations. would freeze any change for 3 or 4 years, socio-economic recovery demand not only Innovation in sustainable mobility, decen- even though we have planned a revision of new practices and a new political and policy tralized energy production, work and the CAP as early as 2025. Transforming the approach to rural areas but also massive service provision also offer huge oppor- CAP is not a one off exercise but an ongoing investments. tunities for rural and urban areas. process. › Green Deal. The circular economy and What is clear, is that the future CAP will EU priorities through rural lenses ecosystem services - needs to be recog- be a lever to fully realise the ambition of Rural areas should be in a position to play nised, valued and enhanced. There is no the Green deal. We will give the Commission a more prominent role in the recovery and serious argument to water down ambi- a strong mandate to ensure the credibility reconstruction plan. Our next generation will tions of the European Green Deal in the of future national strategic plans. These also be a rural one. This should be reflected light of COVID-19. On the contrary, the strategic plans will have to produce results, by closer links and ease of access between crisis is a chance to dig deeper into the and will be monitored via performance indi- rural and urban areas. Many urban dwellers real challenges of an eco-fair transition cators. The greening measures of 2013 will be are fascinated by rural life, while our youth in and the role European Institutions and integrated into the mandatory requirements the countryside are forced into cities because citizens shall play. to receive direct payments, and will therefore of lack access to basic services. become the rule for all European farmers, To turn challenges into advantages, the EU A fresh impetus is also needed in the rural under a reinforced cross-compliance that will needs more integrated policies and strategies, dimension of cohesion, research, digital better protect water quality, enhance carbon to increase the energy and innovation skills and innovation, connectivity policies capture, and further preserve biodiversity. capacity of our rural communities, to tackle and programmes. The Common Agricultural These are concrete steps forward. decarbonisation, digitalisation and climate as Policy should play a greater role in unifying well as social and economic development. the expectations of farmers and citizens An new dynamic, involving rural From health to education, from quality jobs around a common food project. The Farm communities to broadband, these policies should provide to Fork and the Biodiversity strategies are Beyond the CAP, the future of Europe as a access to equal services and strengthen the a unique opportunities and must be fully whole should be shaped through rural lenses. cohesion and cooperation between rural and exploited. This can be achieved by launching an inclusive urban areas and communities. The recent vote on the Common Agri- dynamic, building on rural movements and Both the digital agenda and Green deal can cultural Policy in the European Parliament is social innovation including inter-generational be an opportunities to strike a new societal a new step in the process of transforming this cooperation. balance between urban and rural areas, policy, a step towards a stronger integration Rurality must remain firmly at the top of shaping a more inclusive society, closing the of society’s expectations and for a more the European agenda. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 11 Ensuring sustainable, safe, affordable and quality food in Europe

NORBERT LINS MEP (EPP Group), Chair of Committee of Agriculture and Rural Areas, European Parliament

lot of people believe that the food on impact assessment on food security, quality and is no less ambitious. These market-driven our tables and shelves in the super- and income stability must be conducted. solutions should above all come into play in A market are a matter of fact and take the discussion about pesticides, fertilizers and them for granted. However, sometimes we For me three aspects will be crucial to find organic farming. forget that tables and shelves are not filled sustainable, efficient and climate-adapted magically. It is farmers who need to work for solutions for a long-term food security. Third: Consumer awareness for quality them. Farmers who get up in the morning and sustainability to go to the fields or the stables to produce First: Involving all actors Quality and sustainability have their price. our dinner. Work that starts as early as the The strategy can be a success if all actors I support that food prices should reflect sunrise and sometimes goes on until way have the feeling to be included and their input transport and production costs fairly. This beyond midnight to bring the harvest home. and work is valued. Let me give you an example: is why I want fair trade practices and strict In my region Baden-Württemberg, a citizen ini- measures against food counterfeiting and fair For a long time, full tables have been a nor- tiative threatened to divide farmers (including payment for those involved in the food chain. mality. No one questioned the food security in organic farmers) and NGOs focussing on nature More regional production and consumption, Europe. With Covid-19, the question suddenly on how to best protect bees. While everyone circular economy, more animal welfare and became omnipresent. Is our food chain resilient expected it to end badly, it proved the opposite. ecological requirements don’t come without enough to ensure sustainable, safe, affordable Both sides found a compromise which was a price. We need to make consumers aware on the one hand acceptable for the NGOs, but about the quality and price of their food. and good food in Europe? Luckily, we can also, and more importantly, had the support With their purchasing behaviour, consumers say now that our European food system has of the farming community. Rather than obli- decide which agricultural model they want proven itself excellently. As a second benefit, gations and fix targets, the regional strategy to promote. Therefore, they need to be well the crisis has finally created a momentum to now has ambitious target corridors and puts informed in order to make informed choices acknowledge the daily work of all actors in the incentives before obligations. This example about their diet. This education contributes to food chain, especially for the farmers. shows what the Farm to Fork Strategy needs: a healthy diet, less food waste and fewer diet- first, cooperation and acceptance and second, related diseases. We as policy makers need to The new Farm to Fork Strategy aims to make recognising that there is rarely a single correct think of labelling schemes that make sense. the European food chain more sustainable and solution to any problem. Whereas I like the We will have to do a better job labelling our share the burden equally among all actors idea of the strategy, unfortunately the current products so that consumers know whether - from the Farmers over the processors and text focuses too much on the “Farm” part, they originate from the EU and where and retail to the consumers. In my opinion, the rather than the whole chain. when they have been produced. The question Farm to Fork strategy has some good ideas, here of course is how “local” we want to go and but in itself is not the solution as it currently Second: Enabling the farming sector to how to avoid threatening the internal market stands. adapt to the future and market-driven by promoting national products over products solutions originating from other EU countries. However, Even in crisis, the EU must be able to safely Instead of flooding the sector with additional such labels must not restrict the possibilities feed its people with nutritious and affordable requirements, let us help farmers make the nec- of manufacturers and processors in terms of food. Next to the question of quantity, we essary investments and changes for the future. their entrepreneurial freedom and the internal should also talk about the quality of the This can be done by promoting investment market. products we want to have. Not only will the and innovation, reducing bureaucracy and yields decrease, there is also the question of having the courage to adopt new (breeding) To conclude: ensuring sustainable, safe, health concerns without enough fungicides technologies. Furthermore, all measures affordable and quality food in Europe does not for example. Therefore, before any targets should be market-driven. This increases the need magic. As European policy makers, we are legally binding or the Commission sends acceptance of all actors, responds to the needs need to enable all actors of the chain to make out letters to Member States urging them to and demands of consumers, allows flexibility our food sector more sustainable and resilient. implement the Farm to Fork Strategy, a proper in extreme situations (climate changes, crises) 12 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Farm-to-Fork beyond bold claims - the strategy must deliver for the planet, consumers ULRIKE MULLER MEP (Renew Europe Group), Member of the AGRI and farmers alike Committee- Rapporteur of CAP

et me begin with a positive stocktaking. and contradictions unresolved, dodging the Big agricultural companies can shoulder these Never before have so many people - both painful questions we must answer. investments; thousands of small-scale and L in absolute and relative terms - had family farms cannot. They need more support access to sufficient and high-quality nutrition. Quantifiable targets focus on production than just the income stabilisation the CAP can Never before has life expectancy been so high. The Commission’s strategy aims to address provide. Clearly, balancing the costs of achieving Malnutrition and undernourishment remain all steps of the food chain: from agricultural climate and environmental protection goals an issue in parts of the world, but they are no production, food processing and retail to the with the economic viability for farmers calls for doubt on the decline and we are making sub- consumer. Its priorities are ensuring healthy, better answers. Besides subsidies, farmers need stantial progress in ending hunger in the world. affordable and sustainable food, reducing the a fair return on their investments. As a society, In today’s Europe, we are privileged. Food climate- and environmental footprint of food we must come up with solutions beyond the supply is secure. Not even a serious interruption production and ensuring fair economic return CAP to make this happen. of the single market like the early days of the in the supply chain. Measures can roughly be A more sustainable food system will come Corona-crisis has in any serious way threatened divided into production side (farm-level) on the with a price for consumers as well. With 33 supplies. Such unprecedented food security one hand and consumption side (consumers, million people in the EU unable to afford a allows us to shift our focus from increasing but also processing and marketing) on the quality meal every second day, food afford- productivity towards increasing sustainability. other. ability remains an issue. This has to be borne It allows us for the first time to worry about We encounter almost all quantifiable targets in mind not only when discussing the Commis- on the production side: the reduction of input sion’s target to make the healthy choice the negative external effects such as the emission such as plant protection products, fertilizers most affordable one, but also when discussing of greenhouse gases and negative impacts on and antimicrobials, as well as increased areas further mandatory labelling requirements. the environment and biodiversity. destined to organic farming. While not linked to a clear target, we have to count reducing the Make information available, accessible Green Deal and Farm-to-Fork leave greenhouse gas emissions as well. Achieving and understandable! crucial questions unanswered these targets comes with a price tag. The Speaking of consumers: their choice will Make no mistake, our food production must Commission recognises that this will “require ultimately decide about the fate of our food become more sustainable to ensure food human and financial investment” and that we system. I therefore strongly welcome the security over time. The effects of climate need to ensure a “sustainable livelihood for target of empowering the consumer by making change put agriculture under pressure, just as primary producers, who still lag behind in terms information available, accessible and easily a productive agriculture depends on a healthy of income”. However, the Commission fails to understandable. However, how people use this environment. With the world’s population provide answers as to how to finance such a information and which products they ultimately expected to continue to grow over the next transition beyond simply relying on the CAP. desire must remain their individual choice. decades, productivity will have to keep up as The empowered consumer should remain the well. These challenges are interconnected, and Give small farmers better answers! leading principle of our consumer protection so should be our respective policies. We need While the CAP is a large budget, its ability policy. A sound nutrition education cannot be to step away from the silo mentality and get to fulfil ever more requirements is limited. replaced by legal limits on certain nutrients. to better-integrated policies. In other words: The three quantitative input reduction targets The Farm-to-Fork Strategy should not be a we need an integrated food policy that is well- cannot be achieved by simply turning to vessel for additional requirements for farmers coordinated with other high-level targets. This organic farming. We need to address trade- and food businesses. It must answer how we is what the Farm-to-Fork strategy and its fol- offs between Farm to Fork policy goals, as a society want to get towards a sustainable lowing initiatives should deliver. notably increasing sustainability of food pro- food system as well. The strategy certainly is an With the Green Deal and its Farm-to-Fork duction and maintaining or increasing food important first step towards better-integrated communication, the Commission acknowledges availability and affordability. This will require policies and includes some valuable initial the need for more integrated policy-making and conventional farming to innovate. This means approaches. But it can only serve as a starting offers a welcome starting point. However, the substantial investments in new technologies point to kick off the debates. communication leaves some central problems such as precision agriculture and digital tools. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 13

The role of farmers and their cooperation with other food chain actors in delivering on Farm to Fork CHRISTIANE LAMBERT Copa President sustainability objectives

he Farm to Fork Strategy published in When it comes to improved sustainability first sustainability transition, they say they want to May 2020 has outlined the vision for of all farmers cooperation is of paramount see. Unfortunately, what we often witness is T the future of the agri-food sector of importance. European agri-cooperatives that what the citizen says it wants, the con- the European Commission. The success of this with their interlinked value-adding activities sumers is not ready to pay. Enhanced com- Strategy depends to a large extent on the role involved in the production, aggregation, with munication and improved dialogue, bringing and work of farmers in Europe and their coop- their investments in processing, distribution, consumers and farmers closer together could eration and collaboration with other actors in and even disposal or re-use of by-product certainly help with this. the sector, all along the food chain. or waste that originate from agriculture can support their farmers in being more efficient Farming is a complex job, which depends on Therefore, it is fundamental that the policy and sustainable in many sub-systems (e.g. numerous variables, some of which farmers formulation and implementation of this farming system, waste management system, often cannot control themselves, like climate strategy supports farmers and their coop- input supply system, etc.). Further on, an or market hazards. While some other sectors eratives’ economic sustainability, improves improved cooperation with the food and can implement changes easier, it is important the functioning of the markets while con- drink industry can only enhance this. Farmers to remember that farming has been contributing to a more economically, environ- shouldn’t carry all the whole weight and the stantly changing to respond to market and mentally and socially sustainable agri-food cost of the necessary transition towards a societal challenges. However, to answer sector. The diversity of the European farming more sustainable food system. It is key that challenges such as food security or climate must be recognised as well as the numerous food and drink companies whose business change and their effects on land and rural production methods which bring additional models and sourcing of ingredients depends communities, changes require as step by step benefits from a sustainability point of view. on farmers work be more involved in facili- approach, with adequate time for adaptation Our farmers are the carriers of so much tating such transition and helping farmers in order also to secure farmers’ incomes. responsibility when it comes to achieving the make the necessary investments. If the food Cooperation between food chain actors in goals of this Strategy. Hence, it is necessary and drink industry and the retailers cooperate delivering on Farm to Fork sustainability that their views, their problems and their own with the farmers to ensure that the additional objectives and achieving fairer food chain is of long term sustainability be reflected in legis- economical return created by the added value paramount importance. Farmers are already lative proposals steaming from it. Proposing of more sustainable products is equitably dis- working to make these transitions successful. targets is one thing, but if we want to achieve tributed along the chain, this could certainly They deserve consideration, attention and them we need a collaborative environment, encourage the creation of more sustainable recognition. one where policymakers come together products. For example an enhanced coop- with all relevant stakeholders and where eration between the retailers, the processors the dialog and communication is focused on and the farmers through the exchange of tangible and workable solutions, not rhetoric information on consumers demand could or ideologies. limit to the maximum the last-minute can- cellation of orders to limit food waste. Such The most recent COVID-19 crisis has put cooperation could allow to fix strict sustain- additional emphasize on the importance of ability requirements for the importation collaboration and of a well-functioning food of plant-protein needed (both for food and supply chain. The pandemic has brought feed) that the EU is not able to produce itself. a new reality to our daily lives, as well as Together we would have more bargaining to the activity of European farmers, agri- power and we could easier push for stricter cooperatives and more globally of the actors sustainability criteria for those imports. involved in the food chain. Nevertheless, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we have, It is also important to underline the role together, been able to maintain supply, thus of consumers, who have the power and ensuring food security for our fellow citizens. the responsibility to help farmers in such 14 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Transition to sustainable food systems

MARION JANSEN Director, Trade and Agriculture, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

n many OECD countries, agricultural working on the more than 570 million prices, through a combination of subsidies and support policies in force today are a farms worldwide and are an especially trade barriers. These policies impose a burden I reflection of historic concerns from which important source of livelihoods in devel- on consumers, reduce the competitiveness these policies arose, including global conflicts oping countries; and of the domestic food industry, increase the and famines in the 1900’s. A century later, › ensuring the environmental sustain- income gap between large and small farmers policy concerns and possibilities to address ability of the sector, while adapting and can undermine climate change mitigation them have changed drastically. It is therefore to, and helping to mitigate, climate and sustainable resource use. For example, about time to rethink the design of agri- change: global food systems are not payments linked to production can undermine cultural support policies. only dependent upon natural resources, efforts at climate change adaptation and miti- but are responsible for the vast majority gation by locking farmers into producing par- Currently a large proportion of agricultural of global land and water use, and are ticular crops, regardless of changing climatic support in OECD countries focuses on pro- an important source of greenhouse gas conditions. duction. While the set of rules put in place emissions.1 under the umbrella of the World Trade Orga- A shift towards sustainable food systems nization has drawn attention to the market Trade-offs and synergies exist among requires policies that focus on enabling distorting effects of many of these policies, these objectives and no single solution will transition in the face of changing climate, many countries continue to apply measures be suitable for all food systems. Rather, technological and economic factors. Climate that distort incentives of agricultural pro- a food systems perspective requires that change and shifting pest and disease risks ducers and hamper the transition to more policy makers take a close look at the ways will alter production possibilities and require sustainable practices and outcomes. OECD that policies interact to achieve sustainability new approaches for managing risks. New research highlights areas where policy makers goals in the context of the triple challenge. digital technologies offer tools for producers can redirect policies to accelerate transition OECD research provides insights on how to connect to high-value markets, to commu- to resilient, sustainable food systems and to policies could usefully evolve to accelerate nicate with consumers highlighting product foster economic opportunity. food systems transformation, in particular to characteristics, and to navigate complex ensure environmental sustainability. documentation to manage supply chain rela- Global food systems face a triple tionships. Evolving global markets and trade challenge Current policies hamper transition to relationships mean that linkages among food sustainable food systems system actors can shift rapidly, affecting A transition to sustainable food systems value chain structures. As the pace of change requires a shift in perspective and a recog- OECD’s Agricultural Policy Monitoring and accelerates, it is imperative that policies nition of the interlinkages among agriculture, Evaluation2 report, which covers agricultural support the ability of actors within the food food and environmental policies. Food policies in 54 countries, shows that total system to respond nimbly to manage risks systems’ face a formidable “triple challenge” support to agriculture averaged USD 708 and to take advantage of opportunities. of simultaneously: billion per year during 2017-2019. More than half of this support was directly linked to Policies can simultaneously foster sus- › providing food security and nutrition to farm productions, in many cases by keeping tainability and economic opportunity a growing global population: the world’s domestic prices higher than international population is expected to reach almost Policies and public investment will shape 10 billion in 2050, requiring a significant food systems now and in the future, creating 1 OECD (2020), The challenge of coherent policies, increase in the production of affordable, the enabling conditions for sustainable and Chapter 1: The Performance of the Global Food healthy and nutritious food; System http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/ resilient outcomes and linking producers with › contributing to the livelihoods of people publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=TAD/CA/APM/ consumers and markets. Policy makers can WP(2019)29/FINAL&docLanguage=En around the world working along the focus on developing policies that will raise 2 OECD (2020), Agricultural Policy Monitoring and food supply chain: global food systems Evaluation 2020, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi. the environmental and resource productivity are essential to the livelihoods of people org/10.1787/928181a8-en. of agriculture, enhance land management Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 15

practices, minimise pollution discharges, curtail damage to biodiversity, and strengthen policies that avoid the use of production and input subsidies that tend to damage the environment. This will require a mixture of policy measures, including regulations, as well as investments in innovation, training, and infrastructure.

The experience of Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of transparency on market conditions and policies to reduce market uncertainty, expose bottlenecks and identify risks. The Agricultural Market Infor- mation System (AMIS) in which the OECD participates, has played an important role in helping market participants and policymakers develop effective responses and avoid coun- terproductive export bans.3 Investments in collecting information, monitoring market and policy developments, and communi- cating clearly about the findings provide clear payoffs when unexpected disruptions occur.

An open, predictable, trading system plays a role in addressing the triple challenge facing the food system. The OECD-FAO Agri- cultural Outlook4 shows that international trade will become increasingly important over the coming decade in moving food from where it can be produced to where demand is growing... Trade helps pool risks associated with changing weather and with pest and disease, contributing to resilient sustainable agricultural systems, while also supporting rural livelihoods. Trade also plays an important role in connecting farmers to markets and thus ensuring farm incomes.

Food systems have shown a remarkable resilience to date in the face of disruptions from Covid-19. This crisis provides an opportunity to repurpose agricultural policies, to enhance predictable, transparent markets, to foster economic opportunity and to support a transition to sustainable systems.

3 The role of transparency in avoiding a COVID-19 induced food crisis 4 OECD/FAO (2020), OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029, OECD Publishing, Paris/FAO, Rome, https://doi.org/10.1787/1112c23b-en. 16 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Covid-19 shows an industry up for the farm to fork challenge

MELLA FREWEN FoodDrinkEurope Director General.

russels is alive with talk about the Single Market and allow food products and Nourish together future of our food and how to develop workers to cross borders. Covid-19 is still having a major impact on B a fairer, healthier and more environ- Collectively, across the food chain and our food and drink businesses, most notably mentally friendly way of feeding our growing working with the authorities, we have kept SMEs and those involved in the hospitality population. food shelves stocked. sectors, and the economic destruction will no It is a big challenge, but as I hope our doubt play out for years to come. response to Covid-19 shows, we are an Up for the challenge We still believe, however, that the Green industry that does not shy away from a Developing an EU policy environment that Deal should be at the centre of Europe’s challenge, however difficult it may look. delivers more sustainable food systems is growth strategy, and the food and drink sector That the flow of good food and drink has another important challenge, but we are ready will be a key player in rebooting the economy. continued throughout the pandemic is thanks for it. The European food and drink industry In October we celebrated World Food Day, to the extraordinary efforts of many people can be the benchmark for sustainability as it where the strapline was ‘Cultivate, nourish, working along the entire food chain – from contributes towards a greener planet, thriving preserve – together’. I can only agree. farmers to manufacturers to retailers. economy and healthier living. Covid-19 has taught us that working together While Europe has been in crisis, an army of The EU’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork we can achieve a lot, and we look forward to dedicated workers has been working tirelessly Strategy provide a unique opportunity to working constructively with all stakeholders behind the scenes. tackle all these issues altogether. to ensure European Commission’s Farm to As the largest manufacturing sector in Fork Strategy delivers truly sustainable food Above and beyond Europe – buying some 70 per cent of all EU systems. farm produce and helping to provide 1.5 billion On top of their day job – manufacturing high meals in Europe every day – the food and quality food and drink products – businesses drink industry will be central to its success. across the continent have gone above and beyond in their efforts to help communities deal with the coronavirus crisis. One noticeable intervention came from the drinks companies that switched production from spirits and beers and used the alcohol instead to produce hand sanitisers and gels. Meanwhile, many food and drink companies stepped in to meet the demand for essential PPE equipment for health professionals. Others distributed large quantities of nutritious meals to vulnerable communities and essential workers, while more still made sizeable financial donations to charities and health initiatives. You can read more about these great initiatives here. Cooperation with the authorities has also been vital to managing Covid-19 so that the pandemic creates as little disruption as possible. We have worked collaboratively with the European Commission which provided guidance on transport and on workers and encouraged the Member States to uphold the Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 17 Yes! The relocalisation of food supply chains can lead to food security in the European Union and SARAH WIENER MEP (Greens Group), Member AGRI committee to a healthier planet

lobal warming continues to accelerate, European food should once again be produced The pandemic we are experiencing shows while biodiversity and species diversity in a more socially, ethically and environmentally that particularly awareness of regional food is G are increasingly threatened. Many friendly way and be healthy for all of us. increasing. For example, surveys from Austria things on our planet are out of balance. show that since the outbreak of the corona virus In a few weeks‘ time, the Common European began, citizens‘ awareness of regional foods has Despite the corona pandemic, we should Agricultural Policy for the next seven years risen sharply and people are now more likely to not forget that the climate crisis remains the will be negotiated in a trialogue. The imple- cook for themselves again. biggest challenge facing Europe and the whole mentation of the Farm to Fork Strategy in the world . Closely related to this is the question CAP would have been an important first step The awareness of healthy food is increasing of securing our food supply. And this is clearly towards stable and sustainable food security. among the population and it is precisely this linked to the climate, because our food systems However, instead of seizing this great oppor- awareness that regional agriculture would like are dependent on biodiversity and healthy eco- tunity and enabling and strengthening climate- to strengthen. People should be able to relate systems. Our current food system, however, friendly agriculture and thus a sustainable food to food again, where it comes from and how is geared towards earnings and profit maxi- policy, an old system hostile to the climate is it is produced. At the same time we all have a mization. Environmental toxins are becoming being maintained. responsibility towards natural resources and almost ubiquitious and making us sick, too. living beings. Small regional farms must be Therefore we urgently need to transform our There are plenty of ideas for the implemen- strengthened, thereby creating jobs, shortening food systems and agriculture. tation of environmentally friendly agricultural supply chains and improving the environment. practices. Soil fertility, regionality and the pres- Agriculture in particular is an important ervation of biodiversity play a major role. And Other local food systems include Food sector that depends on and should contribute this is also what the citizens of the European Assemblies, which are based on online ordering to the health of our planet. Instead, it remains Union want. In a recent survey, the following systems and therefore less demanding for their highly dependent on fossil fuels and consumes points were identified as the most important members. Thus, you order online and a few more energy than it produces: agricultural land measures of the coming CAP: Healthy food, days later you pick up the regional food in a use alone is responsible for around 40% of the combating climate change and ensuring a fair central depot. carbon dioxide emitted worldwide. Healthy eco- standard of living for farmers. systems are thus not promoted, but destroyed. Many small citizens‘ initiatives already As a result, soil fertility and biodiversity One type of agriculture that takes into account support the model of sustainable agriculture. gradually decline. In addition to production, the the climate, soil, plants, animals and people - But for the European Union to really move processing, packaging and transport of food as producers and consumers - is Community towards sustainable agriculture, it is essential naturally also cause additional carbon dioxide Supported Agriculture. Here, customers pay that public authorities, such as hospitals and emissions. In 2017 alone, around 1.3 billion tons in advance for a share of the harvest and thus schools, also buy from smaller local suppliers, of agricultural, forestry and fishing products share the risk of a possible crop failure with the thereby supporting small-scale farming, tradi- were transported by road in the European producer. The idea behind this concept is that tional breeds, artisanal processing and family Union. farmers provide people in their surroundings businesses. with healthy food. Conversely, farmers can be In May this year, the European Commission successful in the long term, because they are Agriculture is the pillar of our existence. We presented the Farm to Fork Strategy for a provided with the necessary financial resources. cannot shift the responsibility to individuals and fair, healthy and environmentally friendly An essential aspect of the CSA is that both eco- say: „You have to do this and that now and save food system. One objective of this strategy is logical and economic management are trans- the world on your own!“ Instead, politics must the strengthening of regional and local food parent. The aim is creating a closed cycle, where create framework conditions that promote systems and the creation of shorter supply consumers are no longer just shoppers, but part what is right and what is good and not just chains. The proposals of the Commission in the of the agricultural sector. This will strengthen reduce bad practices a little bit. We must start field of sustainable food production are very the region - ecologically, economically and today to build the food system we want to have welcome. Surely it is in all our interests that socially. in the future. 18 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Support and maintain agricultural activity, essential to the food autonomy of ANNE SANDER MEP (EPP Group), Member of the AGRI Committee our continent

urope has always moved forward with should not only represent an additional our system must be able to produce for all crises, which have made us stronger burden for our agri-food system. Funding and be able to offer products at affordable E and stronger. We have just gone and the necessary tools must be available to costs. European agriculture must remain through an unprecedented ordeal; it has made accompany the sectors towards greater sus- within the reach of all purses even if it gains in us aware of our strengths and weaknesses. tainability. Our producers and industries are quality and sustainability over the years. We The agri-food sector has been put to the test key players in the European Union’s transition must remain productive and stay on course. and showed its resilience in the face of a to a climate-neutral economy, but they will This is also why the Commission has at the world at a standstill by continuing to supply need to be given the means to do so and not same time taken up the subject of food waste, European citizens with quality products. Food lose sight of our goal of food self-sufficiency. which we must act on at all costs. self-sufficiency has been put back at the In short, we must at all costs avoid putting our center of the debate and the Covid pandemic entire production system, sometimes already The other problem in Europe is the demo- has demonstrated how much it should be at in difficulty, in the face of the economic crisis, graphic crisis, particularly in rural areas, but the center of our concerns, for safety reasons climate change or international sanctions. also the crisis of vocations in agricultural pro- but also for reasons of competitiveness, Otherwise, we risk jeopardizing our food fessions. We must at all costs revalorize the health and environment. autonomy and forcing ourselves to import sector, allow our producers to make a living products that do not always respect our from their work and ensure that we fight Everything today pushes us to continue standards and values and at the price of a against agribashing, which is unfortunately our efforts to maintain a strong and resilient sometimes high carbon footprint. running rampant in Europe. Our producers are European food system. key players in the fight for the climate, they It was the original role of the CAP to feed a This is why we must also be consistent, make a lot of effort and we must at all costs continent that was drained of blood after the particularly in the development of our trade accompany them to preserve our know-how, war. It met its very first objective by allowing policy. Our agriculture and agri-food pro- our gastronomic heritage and our European us to be self-sufficient in terms of food, but it duction, which is of high quality and more food autonomy. even went far beyond this simple expectation sustainable than in the rest of the world, is in terms of economic performance and above therefore competitive and we must ensure all by guaranteeing European consumers that it remains so, also bearing in mind that a varied and very high quality diet at an affordable price. The importance of our CAP is also reflected by its place in the European budget, a place that is now threatened in view of the cuts envisaged in the next MFF, despite the many fundamental missions requested from European agriculture, in particular the new environmental expectations linked to the Green deal and its Farm to Fork strategy.

The European Parliament is fully committed to the reform of the CAP to ensure that it responds to present and future challenges. However, we must keep in mind that our CAP is nothing without our farmers, it must accompany them without representing a punitive policy or too heavy with constraints. In the same way the strategies related to Green deal, Farm to Fork and biodiversity Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 19 The huge challenges of ‘Fourche à la Fourchette’

ERIC ANDRIEU MEP (S&D Group), Member of the AGRI Committee

he European Commission finally I am very enthusiastic about the project also accentuated or highlighted numerous presented last May the “Fourche à la from fork to fork, or biodiversity, but I sin- shortcomings. The lack of storage capacity, T Fourchette” project. This is an oppor- cerely doubt that the European Commission’s food surplus or stock disruption, the danger tunity to share my vision with you on what will live up to their promise of an effective of price hypervolatility, the precariousness this programme should be, but also on what climate battle. of many small farmers living on far too low should be done to get the bar back on track. incomes, working conditions and work con- For me, promoting agriculture, the work of Environment vs Food safety: No! I would like tracts for drivers and seasonal workers. down- farmers, short supply chains, agroecology, to add another key point: for me, the environ- stream, the question also arises of access to reducing the use of chemicals, supporting mental transition and food security are closely healthy food for the most vulnerable popu- all actors towards a green transition and linked and, above all, they do not oppose, lations, while we are announcing a doubling ensuring healthy food of sufficient quality as some say, often those who would like of hunger in the world at the end of the crisis. and accessible to all are the objectives to be nothing to change and for whom the benefit Reconciling food security with sustainable achieved. This is a famous challenge, but it outweighs the health, the environment and agriculture, consumption production and the is in fact a minimum for a transition that is the economy of the regions. It is imperative environment must be a priority. The status more environmental, sustainable and more that the Farm to Fork project also sends quo is not a viable alternative, only profound respectful of the demands of European this message of an eco-responsible Europe. reforms will allow us to build tomorrow citizens. A real reform of the PAC.Our analysis CourtsDisposal of diversified agriculture in starts with a finding of echec. The Common each territory is an example of the comple- Agricultural Policy should be substantially mentarity between environmental transition reformed and this reform should coincide and food security: It is a guarantee of a more with the design of the European Green Deal. secure supply, better for biodiversity while However, it was essential to build bridges reducing transport in the short term. Short between the two projects.Unfortunately, this proximity chains are more environmentally- is not the case, far from that. The vote in the friendly and more resilient to crises: They need European Parliament confirmed my concerns. to be promoted and strengthened! Pesticide: It This CAP is a disaster and will probably be is essential to put in place concrete measures, the last one, in any case under this name. including legislation, to significantly reduce Indeed, the CAP has lost its “C”; It no longer the use and risk of chemical pesticides, as well has anything “common” since it advocates as the use of fertilisers and antibiotics. Sim- renationalisation and pushes Member States ilarly, for a real environmental transition, it is towards agricultural dumping. The question necessary to put an end to this toxic reflexion arises as to the European Commission’s to replace one active chemical with another, suicidal strategy of de-empowering and rather than to work towards non-chemical giving the Member States the levers of power. alternatives and to call agroecology and digi- As a health and environmental crisis, it is talisation. Agri-environments27 % of national more than ever the time to assert a European greenhouse gas emissions are now attributed response and consolidate the European Union. to intensive agriculture. Agroecology offers With this text, it is more disappointing than ever. environmentally-friendly technical, social and Moreover, this new common agricultural political alternatives. Here too, Europe has a policy commends the vast majority of the role to play. environmental objectives that should have been its own: A real blow that jeopardises the The impact of Covid 19 on the avenirThe future of agriculture, the future of farmers, agricultural sector, during this health crisis, but also jeopardises the introduction of the has never stopped supplying Europeans with green deal. food, despite the danger. however, Covid 19 20 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Restoring biodiversity to its natural place

PATRICK TEN BRINK EU Policy Director, European Environmental Bureau1

lthough the climate crisis has needed to keep global warming under 2°C Policy (CAP) and adequate funding through been recognised as a threat for by 2030”, according to the Intergovern- the EU budget and the Recovery and decades, it is only belatedly that mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).4 Resilience Facility (RRF). theA biodiversity emergency and its associated mass extinctions is receiving the Instead of multiplying the risks of The law of the land attention it deserves. Now we must restore infectious diseases by destroying nature and The European Green Deal, together with nature before it is too late. wildlife,5 we can enhance our resilience to the associated Biodiversity and Farm to future pandemics by healing ecosystems.6 Fork Strategies, offers hope, momentum The scientific evidence2 is clear: we are and direction. The commitment in the Biodi- eroding nature and with it the basis for our Instead of tolerating that one out of versity Strategy to propose legally binding food, health, economies and societies. The every eight deaths in Europe is caused by restoration targets in 2021 is a major oppor- functions of the ecosystems we take for preventable environmental factors,7 we tunity to promote both biodiversity and granted are being compromised, yet action can contribute to improving mental and climate objectives and to push the needed has been lacking in the past, seemingly physical health by repairing ecosystems.8 regenerative agenda of giving back to the ignoring that our lives depend upon them, planet more than we take and investing with the lion’s share of attention going to And lastly, instead of throwing money at in resilience. However, this will need clear the climate crisis. inherently unsustainable sectors and going and ambitious targets, urgent action and back to business as usual, we can create adequate funding. Concretely, the resto- However, the need for transformative sustainable jobs and invest in restauration, ration law must: action has finally and belatedly been the benefits of Wich generally far exceed recognised in the European Green Deal the costs.9 › Set targets to restore 15% of the (EGD). In the environmental movement, we EU’s land and sea area and at least know that we need system change to halt For this to happen, we need a focused 25,000km of free-flowing rivers by biodiversity loss, and we know what this restoration law that sits within the broader 2030, while also including a target for system change needs to entail. Restoration context of a reformed Common Agricultural CO2 removal through natural sinks measures are one crucial multi-benefit › Focus on ecosystems that can provide element in the “portfolio of actions” needed synergies with climate mitigation and to flatten and reverse the curve of- biodi 4 IPBES, ‘The IPBES assessment report on land adaptation by storing or sequestering versity loss. degradation and restoration’ (2018) https://ipbes. carbon, while the primary objective net/assessment-reports/ldr. should be to tackle biodiversity loss Instead of intensive agriculture, forestry 5 http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy- › Result in large-scale restoration to responses/biodiversity-and-the-economic-response- and other changes in land use contributing to-covid-19-ensuring-a-green-and-resilient-recovery- high-quality nature with a significant around a quarter of total global greenhouse d98b5a09/ positive effect on biodiversity through gas emissions,3 restoration and conser- 6 https://ipbes.net/pandemics, https://www. permanent land use change vation “can provide more than one third of unenvironment.org/resources/report/preventing- › Go beyond existing requirements under future-zoonotic-disease-outbreaks-protecting- the most cost-effective climate mitigation environment-animals-and the Nature Directives and other existing 7 https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ obligations healthy-environment-healthy-lives 8 https://ieep.eu/publications/new-study-on-the- Funding the transition 1 With thanks for input from Laura Hildt, health-and-social-benefits-of-biodiversity-and- The restoration law cannot do everything. Sergiy Moroz, and Khaled Diab, EEB. nature-protection Its strength will lie in its targeted and 2 https://www.cbd.int/gbo5 ; https://ipbes.net/ 9 OECD, ‘Biodiversity: Finance and the Economic global-assessment ; https://www.eea.europa.eu/ and Business Case for Action’ (2019), OECD specific nature that will make it easy and publications/state-of-nature-in-the-eu-2020. Publishing https://doi.org/10.1787/a3147942-en; timely to implement. This means that we 3 IPCC, ‘Climate Change and Land’ (2020), https:// IPBES, ‘The IPBES assessment report on land www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/4/2020/02/ degradation and restoration’ (2018) https://ipbes. must also look towards the CAP and other SPM_Updated-Jan20.pdf. net/assessment-reports/ldr. EU financial instruments. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 21

With intensive agriculture and wider land use change being the main driver of biodiversity loss, a thorough reform of the CAP that is in line with the EGD and the Biodi- versity Strategy is needed to reverse biodiversity loss, to improve the resilience of our food systems and to support the farming community. CAP support can contribute to halting biodiversity loss while benefiting farmers, wider society and the climate. To do so, at least half of its budget needs to be dedicated to environmental and climate targets

In addition to the CAP, the EU’s Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are important sources of funding. The commitment for 37% of the RFF to focus on the European Green Deal is a good start. However, to truly enable restoration, at least 10% of the MFF should further be allocated to biodiversity. The EUR20bn/year for nature promised in the Biodiversity Strategy are only the bare minimum, but this is insufficient to cover the large-scale restoration that is urgently needed.

Diversity of actions We have seen positive commitments in the European Green Deal, in the Biodiversity 4 Pressures and and responses responses Strategy, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Commission President’s State of the Union speech. But strategies and speeches are only part of the picture. The bigger part is Figure 4.1 Summary of pressures and responses the laws, action and money that follows. Each are political choices. Pressures and responses With a strong restoration agenda inte- Member States reported over The analysis of pressures and responses looks jointly at the results grated in the restoration law, in funding, from both nature directives' reporting. Member States have reported over 200 different presssures categorised into 15 overarching sectors, individual pressures and in the CAP, the European Green Deal and over 100 conservation measures are listed in 13 main categories, 67 000 will be feasible and there will be hope for corresponding to the presssure sectors identified. biodiversity and climate. Without it, this generation of policymakers will fail in With 21 %, agriculture is the most frequently reported Urbanisation and leisure activities their stated mission to protect biodiversity pressure for habitats and species. Abandonment of grasslands account for 13 % of all reported pressures, and intensification is particularly impacting pollinator species, representing 48 % of all marine pressures. and the climate. The health, wellbeing and farmland birds and semi-natural habitats future of current and future generations depends on them taking the right actions now. Invasive alien species The modification on water such as the False Indigo-bush, regimes, physical alterations particularly affect dunes and of water bodies and removal of sclerophyllous scrubs as well as sediments predominantly affect species such as breeding seabirds. freshwater habitats and fish.

Forestry activities represent 18 % of all presssures for birds stem 11 % of all pressures, particularly from the exploitation of species, mainly aﬀecting forest habitats, and relating to illegal killing woodland species. and hunting. In Europe, the annual hunting bag amounts to at least 52 million birds.

Climate change is reported Almost 50 % of all pressures as a rising threat, particularly related to pollution can be attributed due to ongoing changes in the to air, water and soil pollution temperature and the caused by agriculture. decrease of precipitation.

EEA State of Nature report, No 10/2020, p.70: How are these pressureshttps://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/state-of-nature-in-the-eu-2020 addressed? Non-bird species

Birds Over 6 000 targeted conservation measures aim Habitats to maintain or to restore 0 20 40 60 80 100 the current status. Percentage Measures taken to restore the status Measures not taken Measures taken to mantain the status Measures not needed

Birds such as vultures particularly beneﬁt from Many habitats improved through targeted measures: species action plans, agri-environmental measures adapted grassland management, the control of invasive and large-scale conservation eﬀorts. species or the reinforcement of sustainable tourism.

Several non-bird species, and especially mammals and ﬁsh improved throught targeted measures such as reducing certain human activities and pollution from diﬀerent sources.

70 State of nature in the EU. Results from reporting under the nature directives 2013-2018 22 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Farmers and the “Farm to Fork” Strategy

JEREMY DECERLE MEP (Renew Europe Group), Member of the AGRI Committee

In which areas do farmers lack concrete against antibiotic resistance. These actions, As for organic farming, we should try solutions to start adapting and already been undertaken by a number of to think beyond the numbers and favour investing in the F2F Strategy? professionals, deserve, on the one hand, to a slightly less binary and less dogmatic I can easily imagine why people would want be promoted and, on the other, deepened and reflection on the subject. A number of to put me in the category of the sceptics as extended to all European countries. virtuous farms, that do not use any input, regards the Farm to Fork Strategy project. My Among the stated and highly publicised do not have the “organic” label, for a variety double hat as a farmer and member of the objectives, there is of course a 50% reduction of reasons. Conversely, major disparities in Agriculture Committee would make me the in the use of pesticides by 2030 and the con- quality levels between so-called “organic” perfect “culprit”. version of 25% of the total European agri- farms still exist today in Europe. The Farm As I have been given the opportunity to cultural area to organic farming. I have abso- to Fork Strategy must therefore be, in my address the topic, I would like to set the record lutely nothing against it, but I would like to opinion, an opportunity to refine the issue straight: I can only welcome the fact that warn about the feasibility of such ambitions, and purpose of “organic”. By first supporting, Europe is concerned – in the final analysis – which is the political question to be resolved. beyond – if not before – the conversion of the with the link between what happens in the Contrary to what some would like to believe, farms, the structuring of the sectors and the farmyards and what we find on our plates farmers do not treat their land out of pleasure added value. Bearing in mind that the target every day. Revaluating agriculture, and the but out of necessity: to protect their crops of 25% organic should not be achieved at the women and men who keep it alive, as well as from pests for which there are unfortunately expense of three quarters of our production, reviving its demography can only be achieved not enough alternative treatments available which must also be supported. I am wary of through a process that reminds everyone today. It was the case with sugar beets in two-tier strategies. where our food comes from. France, where we had to go backpedal to save I shall conclude by saying that the Farm to With regard to the very ambitious proposals the production heavily affected by yellowing. Fork Strategy will have a bright future ahead that the European Commission’s communi- So, the way out of pesticides, if gradual, must of it and benefit farmers and consumers alike, cation put on the table last May, I would like to go hand in hand with reinforced means and a if we take the time and have the courage to stress the need for farmers be fully involved greater focus on alternative processes as well deepen it and work with all the stakeholders at all stages of this global reflection on food as take into account the reduction of the risks in the farm-to-table chain. sustainability. No concrete and convincing linked to the use of pesticides and not only the results can be achieved if we try to build a quantities used. castle with no foundations. In this sense, I would like to see a change in the dynamics by making farmers partners, and no longer public enemy number one. “Agribashing” serves only one cause: destroying our own agriculture for the benefit of a few global players who will happily feed the 500 million Europeans with products well below the quality and traceability standards of our own products. To be able to move forward, we must first recognise and value the steps already taken, then ask ourselves what the remaining obstacles are. Among the announced offshoots of the Farm to Fork Strategy, some seem promising and close to existing practices. I am thinking, for example, of the fight against food waste, the development of nutritional labelling or labelling of the origin of products, or the fight Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 23 Thinking Europe again, thinking rural, thinking human

FRANC BOGOVIČ MEP (EPP Group), Member of the REGI Committee

he EU Action for Smart Villages sets thereby unifying the core visions of our four chain of frustration endlessly. This is an out with no smaller goal than to pro-European political families. attempt to bring order into chaos. Every T change the way we live in Europe. aspect of life is important: energy, transport, By reinvesting into our countryside and rural If COVID19 is teaching us one lesson, then services, health, education, environment areas, we are aiming to solve many of the it is that our bustling, highly individualistic and economy. An imbalance always harms problems Europeans and other continents are city life is destructive to our health; both all components. Good environmental policy faced with in the 21st century, simultaneously. physically and mentally. We can only fight is inconceivable without a functioning, suc- Both social cohesion and interconnected, the disease by respecting the space of others, cessful economy and vice versa. Daily traffic smart technology play a large role here. The dispensing the wasteful and concentrating on chaos damages our health, environment substance of a vision is tested by its applica- the essential. If we can offer the economic, and GNP. We have no choice but to think bility to changed realities. Both the European educational and medical opportunities of our everything at once. ‘Green Deal’ and the current COVID19 cities to rural areas, than our villagers can pandemic highlight that we have been on the offer a more healthy and respectful life to If existing technologies are interconnected right track from the beginning and have been everyone. Land flight has been a product of and have the ability to communicate with each thinking Europe in the right way. Our vision necessity. People do not leave their homes other, learn from mistakes and self-correct can play a large factor in making Europe more and wider families lightly. If we turn this trend then there is a good chance that this ‘smart’ around we cannot only better the situation of use of technologies will create synergies and carbon neutral and it lays the groundwork for rural areas, but can offer a real opportunity therefore become more than the sum of its the ability to easily and painlessly practice to everyone; an opportunity that includes parts. The smart connection of technologies social distancing and teleworking. Famously answers to our current ecological and medical in a holistic manner, including all aspects of crisis or danger also embodies opportunity. challenges. our daily life, will lead into a new product and In order for us to harness this opportunity, solution. This product will have value that is however, we will need to be brave and think It seems to me that, technologically currently hard to quantify. But it could be a big. We may not be driven by fear, but rather speaking, we are currently in puberty. We flexibly used blueprint to solve region by be enchanted by what could be. We cannot are looking at a multitude of innovations region of our magnificent continent. allow ourselves to be merely reactive, but that make our lives easier and make us need to proactively shape the continent with more productive as a society. But they are These sound like grand ideas, too high to purpose and plan. often half-baked and all too often they still reach. But it is our mission, as politicians, to create frustration in their use. They are not translate these big ideas into real life. Creating Imagine a World in which people rediscover compatible with each other and usually do a handful of model smart villages is only the scenic beauty of our countryside, in which not take account of each other, so that we a step away and then we will already have our citizens embrace social engagement, are confronted with a chaotic coexistence of achieved test scenarios that we can visit, see, understand the advantages of cooperative technology. I well remember how difficult it smell, feel and learn from. They will serve as structures and feel proud to be an active was to program a video recorder or connect it motivators for further investment into this member of their respective community. to the television. Programming became much vision. We are currently speaking to a number A World that embraces and harnesses easier with the DVD player and since smart of companies and public actors simulta- technology, instead of seeing it as a threat, televisions and HDMI cables, connecting it has neously, or are very eager to roll up their because it gives us the liberty to concentrate also become much easier. Just as we got used sleeves and move into concrete action. This is on the essential and live outside of the city in to this convenient reality, the DVD became exciting and invigorating for all involved. an environment ideal to raise a family. This obsolete again. Everything is now online and does not mean that we will leave caution in digital format. What happens to my old outside the door; it is a natural and healthy favourite films and how do I watch videos part of advancement. Solidarity, freedom of recorded with my iPhone on the Android TV choice, innovation, family values and eco- etc. etc? My car is electric, but the electricity logical consciousness will go hand in hand, is produced with coal. You can continue this 24 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe What type of logistics is needed to have fresh products and development on a metropolitan, regional and European scale?

it closer to a lean manufacturing model and accentuating the hyper-freshness of the produce, from farm to fork.

Covid-19 has in fact both disrupted and strengthened this logistics axis. The pandemic has led consumers to buy in local shops rather than large retail outlets, increased the need for clean deliveries and generated a growing call for local, seasonal produce.

BRUNO CASSETTE DIDIER DELMOTTE ISABELLE WISNIEWSKI What does the concept of “incubator” Director General, Lille General Manager Innovation manager bring to a project like Euralimentaire? Metropole (MEL) EURALIMENTAIRE EURALIMENTAIRE An innovation incubator-accelerator in the food sector of the future

he Euralimentaire site of excellence and economy; the regional food identity (the Launched in 2017, the purpose of the Eurali- was created from the former Lille different facets of local specialities). mentaire incubator is to boost the creation of T National Interest Market, now the Lille innovative businesses and jobs in the fresh Wholesale Market. It has a vocation to coor- This public action has strengthened local, food market. Its teams support project leaders dinate the city’s actions in terms of food and short supply chains. The site of excellence and start-ups who want to develop a product urban logistics, as well as providing a welcome is therefore pursuing three areas of devel- or service in the foodtech sector (distribution, and support for foodtech start-ups. Eurali- opment: Organisation of the sector; Welcome manufacturing and/or coaching/media). mentaire’s strategic reference standard is the and development of start-ups; Urban European Green Deal. It is important to note logistics. The incubator is an integral part of a that 44% of the land within Lille Metropole is dynamic regional ecosystem and a dense agricultural. Lille Metropole is involved in this On the question of logistics alone, there industrial network of 1,400 companies with dynamic through its commitment to a local are many challenges in terms of inter- 36,000 employees, making the Hauts-de- food strategy, with its Regional Food Project regional and intra-regional flows. France region the number one regional agri- (Projet Alimentaire Territorial – PAT), itself the The site of excellence is located in the business cluster. result of the Law for the Future of Agriculture, future Low Emissions Zone (ZFE), intended Food and Forests. to protect residents in the most polluted, Over the last three years, the incubator densely populated areas. Already adopted has supported 40 project leaders in different As one of the principal focuses of the by 231 cities or European metropolises, it foodtech sub-sectors (new products, pro- PAT is to address “better eating” and “better aims to reduce road traffic emissions, one of cesses, services and applications in the food production” and to move towards a more the main sources of urban pollution. One of sector of the future). Over 130 jobs have been sustainable food system, Lille Metropole its principles is to encourage the circulation created and four fundraising rounds have drew up its own Metropolitan Food and Agri- of cleaner vehicles. The most polluting and been carried out, raising over €5 million. culture Strategy in 2016. The approach is now “unclassified” vehicles will not be allowed to being continued with the introduction of the travel in the ZFE at certain times of the day. The types of projects supported by the Regional Food Project (PAT- Whose ambition This represents a real challenge for goods Euralimentaire incubator are divided into is food well-being for all). This system offers transport in general and fresh produce in par- three priority sectors: foodscience, food- a new, co-building approach to providing a ticular. In view of these findings, discussions service and coaching. better food system for city residents, bringing were held in 2019 to set up a professional together all the stakeholders in the food Marketplace known as E-fresh. The aim is The incubator support services system (producers, wholesalers, processors, to support businesses that face traffic con- Designed for innovative project leaders retailers, restaurateurs, local authorities, gestion and parking difficulties in urban areas. in agribusiness and foodtech, the incubator consumers). The three main priorities of the This platform will considerably develop the offers support services covering every stage PAT are: social accessibility; nutrition, health operations of the wholesale market, bringing of the project. A team of experts provides all Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 25

the necessary services that will structure the provides hosting infrastructure in the heart Incubator testimonials project and optimise its chances of success. of the Lomme (Lille) National Interest Market (MIN), the largest French wholesale market “We appreciate having the facility to ‘pick a. FoodStart Programme A three- after Rungis (fruit, vegetables, flowers). Over and choose’ from the different units, month support programme known as a surface area of 1,000 m², the structure services and knowledge we need to make “FoodStart” will be launched in 2020. provides: progress in our development, thanks to This programme is designed for project › 12 x 40 m² preparation units with water the Euralimentaire team and its links with leaders whose profile is a step behind supply and a Wi-Fi connection; Clubster NSL and Eurasanté. The HR unit for example has really helped those benefiting from the incubation › Shared technical premises (cold room, us with recruiting several members of programme. vegetable processing area, goods loading the team, preparing the roadmap and b. Incubation Programme Tailor-made and unloading docks, etc.); integrating these employees within the support to start your business over › Co-working spaces or private offices; company.” Jérémie Guilbert, Founder, Mes 24 months, up to the first fundraising › A shared kitchen. Voisins producteurs round or proof of business concept. The e. A broad programme of events expert team is present throughout the project, from researching a relevant Euralimentaire organises six events “The Euralimentaire team has helped us examine patent filing and steered us business model. per year, with the objective of promoting towards key resources and skills to secure c. Acceleration Programme For young meetings between stakeholders and partners our innovations. This support has also companies, Euralimentaire has put in in the sector. The structure has teamed up enabled us to obtain essential funding to place an acceleration programme to help with Clubster NSL to offer its project leaders file our first patents.” Thomas Dormigny them develop and access the market, information workshops and networking optimising their chances of success. focused on foodtech and nutrition issues In d. Suitable premises 2019, these workshops had a total of over “After 8 months of incubation at Eurali- mentaire, we have been able to appreciate 500 participants. the many qualities in the support delivered The Euralimentaire site of excellence, ded- by the team: the welcome and the variety icated to fresh, local produce and its logistics, of discussions with other project leaders at seminars and training courses, networking with good contacts such as technical centres, suppliers, industrial companies, and support with administrative and legal processes.” Alvaro Madrazo, Founder, ZANT

“The support from Euralimentaire was crucial for my first fundraising round. The team, who are always available and experts in this subject, gave me the keys to understanding the specific world of innovation funding. This led to an introduction to a network of investors with tailor-made meetings and support in some very technical aspects.” Stéphanie Rome 26 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe How to guarantee food security and sovereignty in Europe by reducing the use of pesticides IRÈNE TOLLERET MEP (Renew Europe Group) Member of the AGRI Committee

he European new “Green Deal” and, in This paradoxical situation, in which nobody promotion of agronomic technics, such as particular, the Farm to Fork and the is happy with the decisions taken by the rotation, in order to reduce plant protection T Biodiversity strategies, are intended to European Union, should be analysed before treatments. The next CAP reform is the meet consumers’ expectations regarding the taken new legislative initiatives. What is the perfect opportunity for the organic production use of pesticides, among other objectives. The reason or the reasons for such a failure in the and other alternative systems to spread out European Union will undertake the revision of implementation of the Directive? thanks to the new eco-schemes. its legislation on pesticides, while setting up On my opinion, the European Union has not a new Common Agricultural Policy reform given itself the means to reach its goals in this In the future, we should better recognise that will improve farmers’ transition towards sensitive area: investments in research are the efforts done by farmers and support greener practices. lacking and digitalisation is still unthinkable them in order to safeguard the EU competi- What are the alternatives to the use in many rural areas. Since the introduction of tiveness. Making economic goals compatible of pesticides in the European Union? Is it the directive 91/414 the most dangerous sub- with the environment and the food safety is possible to feed the world without chemicals stances have been progressively banned. Very essential if we want to keep providing high taking in consideration the global population often, less efficient pesticides have been put in quality products to consumers. Our European growth? Can European farmers compete the market, and this loss of efficiency has led food sovereignty should not be neglected. with productions coming from third countries to an increase of the number of treatments. A which apply lower environmental and health collateral impact of this phenomenon -which Furthermore, EU trade concessions to standards? How do we tackle the influence has never been assessed by the EU- is the third countries should be coherent with the of Climate Change in the proliferation of new consequent increase of GHG emissions due to EU food safety policy. It is not admissible plant diseases? Those questions need a deep more frequent pesticides applications in the that the European Union allows the access reflexion involving all actors concerned. fields. On my opinion, those emissions should of agricultural and food imports containing In the last decades, the European Union not be disregarded in the scientific evaluation residues of pesticides which are banned in our has dramatically reduced the number of which is part of the authorisation process. territories. It is also a non-sense to authorise substances authorised by banning the most the EU production of banned substances dangerous ones, and Member States have put It is important to highlight that many with the aim of export them outside the EU. in place national plans to reduce health and Member States do not hesitate to apply the Although such an incoherence is permitted environmental risks in the framework of the EU legal provision which allows them to tem- by the Rotterdam Convention, the European Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. porarily authorise banned substances when Union should show the good example to the Organic farming has developed in the last there is no alternative solutions. In my opinion, world. Such a hypocritical behaviour lacks of years and farmers have started introducing this existing derogation makes even more morality. digital and other innovative techniques to obvious the failure of the EU’s policy on pes- manage epidemics. ticides. The research on new solutions is still In conclusion, I would like to insist on the Unfortunately, despite all those efforts, far from being developed to compensate the fact that farmers deserve being properly the current situation is far from being sat- reduction of active substances on the market accompanied in their efforts to contribute isfactory. According to the European Com- and big companies are not willing to engage to the Green Deal objectives. We should not mission, Member States are not complying in long and costly scientific assessments. Bio forget that they still play a key role in the with the objectives of the directive regarding pesticides are proliferating, but some of them preservation of the rural areas and in meeting the reduction of pesticides, and the use of raise doubts about their safety and efficiency consumers’ expectations in terms of quality Integrated Pest Management tools to replace compared to the chemical ones. food. We need them. chemical substances is clearly insufficient. At the same time, farmers complain more However, there is a real demand from and more about the growing scarcity of plant society to reduce the use of pesticides and protection products at their disposal to fight we should help farmers meet consumers against pests. This problem is particularly expectations. Setting up precision farming noticeable in relation to minor uses. techniques is indispensable as well as the Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 27 A coherent European Green Deal for the next generations

VOLKER KOCH-ACHELPOHLER Head Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability for EMEA, Bayer AG, CropScience Division

he European Green deal is a fine At Bayer, we see room for transformational in Europe, we will continue to rely heavily on political ambition but it is first and change in agriculture. If we can deploy the use agricultural imports. If we no longer allow the T foremost a policy imperative if we of cover crops, no-till agriculture, integrated imports from Genetically Modified Organisms are striving to live within our planetary weed management and digital agriculture on or much needed crop protection solutions in boundaries. a large scale, we can reach carbon neutrality tropical areas, we can expect a very strong in agriculture before any other sector and dra- increase in land use in those biodiversity There has never been a greater urgency matically reduce our environmental impact rich countries. While painful, we must stay to address environmental degradation. With on soil and water resources. realistic when it comes to understand those its 450 million (prosper) consumers single relationships of causes and effects. If we market governed by a stable rule of law, All these solutions will depend on the do not want the European Green Deal to be the European Union has the power to make policies that will enact in the next two years. a curse for the environment, we must deal a strong impact and lead by example. And Shifting to the next level of sustainability with the reality of current trade-offs between while the implications of climate change practices requires a smart mix of incentives, imports, domestic production and the con- are still abstract to some, we cannot deny large scale public investment and predictable sumption patterns of our citizens. the importance of the European Green Deal risk-based regulation based on evidence and for the generations to come. It is a pivotal science. We must be more precise about In conclusion, there is too much at stake moment in the history of mankind; and we what we want to protect and what we want to put our head in the sand and hide behind won’t have a second chance to make it right. to achieve. Here, I believe the planetary the tribal debates that dominate much of boundaries concept is essential to guide the EU the political conversation around agriculture. We must acknowledge the extraordinarily policy action. If climate change is the mother We can only wish that the upcoming political difficult task it is for policy-makers to rec- of all battles, we must put in place policies debates move away abstract targets and oncile all these ambitions into one coherent that will reduce our land use and resource focus on how to deploy sustainable practices set of policies and legislations. Climate consumption. What we decide in Europe such as conservation agriculture, carbon change, biodiversity loss, pollution, circular will inevitably have repercussions across the sequestration in soils, environmental impact economies, food security, trade are all deeply globe -so let’s not offshore our environmental reductions measures and precision agri- interconnected challenges and agriculture is impact. If we deplete our farmers’ toolbox and culture. The clock is running. It is time to act. centrally embedded in this nexus. Improving cannot sustainably intensify our agriculture the resilience and sustainability of agriculture cannot be overstated. It is utterly clear that we must improve conservation and production at the same time. It is not one or the other. It is has to be both. To be successful, we will have to overcome this fundament paradox of agriculture.

I sincerely believe that our best hopes rest with our innovation potential. Without modern crop protection solutions, integrated weed management, new breeding techniques, digital agriculture and carbon farming, there will be no reduction in environmental impact. On the contrary we will see an acceleration in environmental degradation, as the world population is growing and more people access the middle class. 28 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe From River 2 Farm 2 Fork, and back

OLIVER LOEBEL EurEau Secretary General

afe and secure water supplies are fun- their environmental footprint and comply with EurEau fully supports the Commission’s damental to the delivery of our food, applicable EU legislation. The introduction of the intention to reduce the excessive use of anti- S and fair, healthy and environmentally- Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients provided microbials in animal healthcare, as those may friendly food systems are at the heart of the it is well designed and its recommendations be found back in drinking water resources. Green Deal to transform the Union into a are effectively implemented can be a major The Commission aims to reduce the sale of modern, resource-efficient and competitive step towards full compliance with the Nitrates veterinary antimicrobials by 50%. If properly economy. The Commission itself admits that Directive. The CAP conditionality requirements implemented, this Control-at-Source measure our food systems consume large amounts of must be extended, such as farmers should only will make a significant contribution to reducing natural resources, resulting in biodiversity loss receive support for practices that will deliver antimicrobial resistance. and negative health impacts. Something needs EU water legislation goals. The eco-schemes We strongly believe the F2F Strategy should to change. must remain compulsory. not only look at water quality but extend to Water is therefore central to the success of The F2F is an opportunity for the EU to water quantity. In light of the impacts of climate achieving the EU’s goals of a fair and equitable oversee the implementation of other legis- change and increasingly recurring drought, future. Water and agriculture are intrinsically lation that is only partly delivering, such as excessive water abstraction for irrigation linked. The intensive use of anthropogenic the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive. The purposes must be avoided, since it is unsus- substances such as nitrates, pesticides and revision of this directive is therefore welcome. tainable and may cause local problems to the veterinary medicines, including their metab- In addition, pesticides or their metabolites security of the drinking water supply. With olites, is increasingly having a negative impact which are hazardous to human health should the recently adopted Water Reuse Regulation, on the quality of drinking water resources. At not be authorised for use. The approval farmers have more opportunity to use safe and the same time, waste water proposes plentiful requirements must include the formation of treated water in irrigation which, in turn, may ways to replenish and nourish our soil while possible hazardous transformation products conserve water resources for drinking water conserving these drinking water supplies. in the drinking water treatment process. We production. With this in mind, EurEau welcomes the are pleased to hear that the Commission’s The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy and the full value proposed reduction goal for chemical pesticide the Green Deal. It is a golden opportunity for chain approach. The success of the strategy use is 50%. the EU to address the challenges of sustainable will largely depend on its full alignment with With the F2F Strategy, we also have the food systems and build links between healthy other components of the Green Deal, including occasion to look at the impact of excessive people, healthy societies and a healthy planet. its zero pollution ambition, climate change nutrient losses on the quality of drinking Innovation, research and technology, combined goals and Circular Economy Strategy. The EU water resources. Excessive nitrate levels in with increasing public awareness and demand needs a systemic change, and the F2F could groundwater used for drinking water pro- for sustainable food, will ensure that the Green provide the framework for a sustainable food duction cause hundreds of millions of euros deal and the F2F will benefit everyone. The system. One prerequisite to achieving this is of extra treatment costs to drinking water water sector is ready to cooperate with farmers incorporating the goals and requirements of suppliers. This cost has to be borne by water at all levels to progress in the transition process. the EU’s water legislation and in particular consumers today. A general reduction goal the Water Framework Directive, its daughter of nutrient losses of 50% is a first step, but it About EurEau directives (the Environment Quality Standards must be remembered that groundwater pol- EurEau is the voice of Europe’s water sector. We and Groundwater Directives) and the Nitrates lution is a local or regional phenomenon. The represent drinking water and waste water operators from 29 countries in Europe, from both the private and the Directive into agricultural legislation such as full implementation of the Nitrates Directive public sectors. the CAP. should ensure that levels are respected in all Our members are 34 national associations of water Farmers need support with what will regions across Europe. services. At EurEau, we bring national water professionals together to agree European water sector positions undoubtedly be a complex transition phase. The upcoming revision of the Sewage Sludge regarding the management of water quality, resource The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is Directive will regulate sludge use in such a efficiency and access to water for Europe’s citizens and designed to offer the support that farmers way as to prevent harmful effects on soil, businesses. The EurEau secretariat is based in Brussels. With a direct employment of around 476,000 people, the need. However, the CAP must also put tools vegetation, animals and people when applied European water sector makes a significant contribution in place that encourage farmers to reduce to farmland. to the European economy. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 29 Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors to make the food system resilient PIERRE KARLESKIND MEP (Renew Europe Group), Chair of the PECH committee

ustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Europe. In addition to that, we also need to generations. The European Maritime and sectors will contribute to a resilient valorise our European products. Consumers Fisheries Fund should help this purpose but S food system, eradication of mal- need to know when a fish is caught sus- cannot be the only way. Therefore, we need nutrition and hunger in Europe and in the tainably or when an aquaculture production is these sectors to be economically and socially world. Fisheries and aquaculture products done in a sustainable way. The efforts of the resilient. In this perspective, we should not will play a key role in feeding an increasing European producers to make their practices forget that sustainable development has world population with healthy products. The more sustainable need to be economically three focuses: environment, economic and proportion of fish production intended for and socially rewarded. This is what we need social and that they should be treated equally. human consumption is expected to continue to work on and unfortunately, the Farm to To guarantee food security, we need fishers growing, reaching 89% by 2030, as the Food Fork Strategy is still lacking ambition in that and aquaculture producers for the century to and Agriculture Organization (FAO) underlines matter. come. in its report on the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture for 2020. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture In Europe, we decided to focus on these two management, in line with our international pillars: sustainability and resilience. The Green Regarding the European Union, one of the commitments on UN Sustainable Devel- Deal, the Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy opment Goals, is key to ensure food security strategies will serve this goal of achieving (CFP) is to ensure that fishing and aquaculture in Europe. For fisheries, the reformed CFP more sustainable fisheries and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable and introduced the concept of Maximum Sus- sectors to ensure a resilient food system for managed in a way to achieve socio-economic tainable Yield (MSY). The objective of the our continent. But it will not be enough if we benefits and to contribute to availability of MSY is to preserve resources while allowing act alone. We have to act globally through the food supplies. CFP applies to the entire EU a profitable activity for the fishing sector. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations fleet within the European waters as well as Even though it is not applied in all European and through all the international platforms, in outside of them. It means that the European sea basins already, it has shown positive order to ensure that achieving food security fleet has to comply with high environmental, effects in some regions such as in North- is not only a European concern but a global social and sanitary standards all over the East Atlantic. We need to carry on fishing to one. Fisheries do not know borders; our ocean world. Very high standards also apply to offer food supplies to European citizens, is common. Aquaculture products coming European aquaculture production. None- but it has to be done respectfully to biodi- from all over the world enter every day the theless, more than 60% of the fisheries and versity, marine environment and in a way to European market. Therefore, our fight for aquaculture we, Europeans, consume come allow stocks to reproduce. It is the same for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors from imports. These imported products can aquaculture activities. We have to make sure must be global! come from countries that do not comply that aquaculture productions preserve the with the same standards than the Europeans quality of the products and animal welfare. producers. Having products in the European One need to understand that aquaculture market that contribute to the availability could play an important role in the following of food supplies is not enough. We need to years in providing food to a growing popu- ensure that these products comply with the lation. That is why it is fundamental to have highest standards in the world such as the sustainable aquaculture production methods European ones and do not come from Illegal, and practices. Unreported and Unregulated fishing activities. That is exactly what the Farm to Fork Strategy Sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture attempts to address by making the value goes hand in hand with the resilience of chain more sustainable. Improving the trace- the food system. We cannot separate or ability for imported products while continuing oppose one to the other. For these sectors to working on the sustainability of our methods guarantee food security in Europe, we need of production is key to ensure food security to make them more attractive to the future 30 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Redesigning Our Food System To Make It Future-Proof

CARINE KRAUS change are exacerbating the pressure on the need for a more efficient use of energy Sustainable Development & arable land, whose quality and availability are throughout the agri-food chain. One promising Public Affairs Director - Veolia inexorably deteriorating. Ensuring the best solution lies in the conversion of waste and food coverage, while diminishing the pressure industrial effluents from agro-industry into on the necessary resources on land, energy, clean energy through anaerobic digestion water, and intrants, is becoming a consid- (methanisation), significantly reducing the erable challenge. consumption of fossil fuels. The revision of Malnutrition, Food Waste, Obesity: the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will Solving A Paradox In May, the European Union has taken be an opportunity to incentivise the food and According to a report of the Food Agri- ambitious steps to address these issues with beverage industry to further develop energy culture Organization (FAO), over 820 million the publication of its Farm-to-Fork Strategy. efficient manufacturing sites. people worldwide still suffer from hunger A cornerstone of the Green Deal — the EU’s and 149 million children are stunted. In his roadmap for achieving climate neutrality by Changing Food Consumption Patterns book Betting on Famine: Why the World Still 2050 — this comprehensive strategy aims Consumer choices will also play an Goes Hungry (2011), Swiss sociologist Jean to make Europe’s food system more sus- important role in reinventing food systems. Ziegler — who served as UN Special Rap- tainable while bringing economic, social, and There is overwhelming evidence and a porteur on the Right to Food from 2008 to health benefits. It seeks to tackle both the growing recognition that overconsumption 2012 — examines the paradox of our failure to supply and demand side by greening food of meat from intensive industrial livestock eradicate global hunger while there is enough production and encouraging healthier food farming negatively affects environmental food for everyone on Earth. consumption. sustainability. In 2018, researchers of the Uni- versity of Oxford conducted a study analysing In fact, enough food is produced to feed Reducing The Environmental Impact of livestock’s environmental footprint, and found twice our current global population. However, Food Supply that the best thing we can do for the planet is about 33% of the global food production According to the FAO, agriculture accounts stop eating meat and dairy. is not consumed, while the FAO estimates for 70% of all water withdrawals globally. that 14% is lost before even reaching con- These proportions impact the environment A number of studies highlighted that 1 kg sumers, worth €360 billion. In Europe alone, and generate conflicts of use. As the world of meat requires between 5,000 and 20,000 88 million tonnes of food are lost annually. will be facing a 40% water deficit by 2030, litres of water, while 1 kg of wheat requires Wasting food means that additional land, there is an urgent need to significantly between 500 and 4,000 litres of water. water, energy, and material resources have reduce water abstraction by applying circular Meat alternatives, such as plant-based and been consumed, contributing to unnecessary economy principles to water management. cell-based meat, could also alleviate the greenhouse gas emissions. The recent adoption of the EU Water Reuse pressure on natural resources and contribute Regulation for agricultural irrigation sends to reaching climate objectives set in the Paris Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since a positive signal. Farmers can safely use Agreement. This could save up to 6 giga-

1975. The World Health Organization (WHO) properly treated wastewater while protecting tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. reports that over 1.9 billion adults were the health of consumers, workers, and overweight in 2016; of these 650 million ecosystems. All non-dairy milk products, whether they were obese. The paradox: hunger still exists are made from nuts, beans, or seeds, produce while huge quantities of food are wasted and Equally, large companies from the food and less emissions than traditional cow’s milk. obesity is on the rise. As a matter of fact, beverage industry such as Nestlé, Danone, Switching to such products would make a something is broken within our food system or Bonduelle are increasingly deploying significant difference. But the real challenge and it needs to be fixed. technologies to recycle their wastewater for lies in raising consumer awareness and trans- further reuse in manufacturing processes forming consumption habits. The Challenge of Feeding Everyone (e.g. cleaning vegetables, cooling towers, Sustainably brewing beers, etc.). The upcoming revision Encouraging An Economic Paradigm The challenge of feeding everyone within of the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) Shift the planetary boundaries has never been so could further promote the reuse and recycling In her book Doughnut Economics: Seven acute. With the world’s population expected of volumes of water on-site. Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist to reach nearly 10 billion in 2050, experts (2017), Oxford economist Kate Raworth estimate that global food production will Regarding energy, the food production calls for a paradigm shift and offers a new need to increase by 50% to meet demand. At and supply chain uses 30% of all the energy economic model based on a doughnut (lit- the same time, rapid urbanisation and climate consumed on the planet, which exacerbates erally two circles). Its inner circle represents Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 31

the basic human needs, the outer circle the and crises of all kinds. The upcoming revo- than breeding farmed animals while providing planetary boundaries, and in between is the lution, that of the ecological transition, is not more proteins. safe space for humanity. Only by living within a source of fear, but precisely the opposite: this safe space can we meet everyone’s the opportunity to deploy our energy and Aquaculture is an increasing critical source needs while avoiding environmental collapse. know-how for the benefit of all. of food. Land-based aquaculture facilities Raworth advocates for a regenerative and minimise the impacts of fisheries on the envi- distributive economy and suggests to stop For this reason, Veolia welcomes the ronment, while reducing the carbon footprint focusing on economic growth. European Green Deal and related initiatives of conventional seafood supply chains (up to including the European Climate Law, the 50% reduced footprint). Utilising advanced In April 2020, the city of Amsterdam Farm to Fork Strategy, the new Circular recirculating aquaculture systems allows launched its Circular Strategy 2020-2025 Economy Action Plan, and the 2030 Biodi- farmers to improve their sustainability per- following the Doughnut model proposed by versity Strategy. Without the right policy formance. Regulators should promote such Raworth. The strategy outlines actions to instruments, the expected structural change solutions. become completely circular by 2050. Among will not happen at the pace our planet des- the city’s objectives, cut food waste by 50% by perately needs. The recovery of sewage sludge can help 2030, strengthen infrastructure to allow for reduce dependence on fertilisers or produce separate collection of organic waste streams First, we call on political leaders to find a renewable energy. This is why we believe by 2022 and develop urban agriculture. swift agreement on the next Multiannual all recycling and reuse options should be Financial Framework 2021-2027 and the EU encouraged including recovery into fertiliser, Fostering Local, Circular And Innovative Recovery Plan as budgetary means will set compost and biomass as long as it meets Solutions the tone for the next seven year. Sufficient strict health and environmental standards. Urban farming is an ideal circular economy support should be given to the new research The revision of the Urban Waste Water practice that addresses several needs. It programme Horizon Europe and in particular Treatment Directive from 1991 and the eval- provides urban consumers with quality, to support the development of sustainable uation of the Sewage Sludge Directive from fully traceable, and locally sourced food. innovation. 1986 should help close the loop of sewage It creates local jobs especially in deprived sludge management. neighbourhoods. This helps municipalities To enable the full potential of the circular landscape the urban environment while economy in Europe, we call on decision- As already mentioned, the upcoming contributing to greenhouse gas emission makers to improve the design of food revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive reduction and climate change mitigation. packaging in order to ease its recycling and should seek to optimise water and energy implement mandatory recycled content use in industrial processes. A thorough Today, many inspiring and innovative in packaging in order to boost the market implementation of the recently adopted EU business initiatives are bringing hope to for secondary raw materials. Adequate Taxonomy will contribute to drive the needed transform our food system. Companies investment in waste collection and treatment private investment in green and low carbon such as AeroFarms in the United States are should also be made to increase recycling technologies. growing fresh greens just outside New York rates. using vertical farming. Meatable in the Neth- Finally, the introduction of a carbon border erlands and others are producing cell-based In addition, the EU must address food mechanism will be detrimental to preserve beef as a substitute to regular meat. In France, labelling by disclosing the carbon footprint the competitiveness of the European start-ups such as Ynsect and Mutatec create and food prices better reflect their environ- economy and prevent carbon leakage in third high-value insect proteins for animal feed and mental impact as it will help consumers make countries. organic fertiliser for plant nutrition through more informed choices and empower them insect bioconversion. In Belgium, Le Cham- to consume more sustainably. Moreover, the The next five years will be critical to the pignon de Bruxelles is growing mushrooms EU Novel Food Regulation and the European transformation of our food systems to make in a large basement with local brewer’s spent Food Safety Authority should enable safe them more resilient and sustainable for grains. edible insects to be sold on the European present and future generations, so let’s not market as their production consumes signifi- miss this opportunity to accelerate the eco- Finally, precision agriculture, an approach cantly less land, less water and less energy logical transition. to farming that uses data to optimise inputs such as water, fertilisers, and pesticides to maximise crop productivity, can prevent overapplication of chemicals, which are a key source of greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector.

Applying these principles and upscaling these practical solutions is now urgently required. Rethinking, redesigning and reinventing ways to feed people is needed more than ever before.

Policy-Makers Are Part Of The Solution Throughout its 160-year history, Veolia Inside a greenhouse growing lettuce using aquaponics, a method that combines aquaculture has gone through several revolutions, wars and hydroponics in one single integrated system for growing plants without using soil and pesticides. 32 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Investing in food system resilience

CINDY VENHO A circular economy recovery to the Research Analyst, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Covid-19 pandemic

hile the Covid-19 pandemic has million jobs and USD 3.56 trillion in economic Increasing the availability of specific devastated many industries, it’s opportunities could be created by reforming equipment and non-synthetic inputs—such W impact on the food sector has food, land, and ocean use by, among other as biofertilisers, vertical tillage tools that been varied. On the one hand, there has been things, making greater use of regenerative preserve soil structure, and ‘finger weeders’ a global increase in spending on groceries, agricultural practices. that can remove unwanted flora without as the popularity of cooking from scratch toxins—will support farmers in making the has grown, and many have turned to local In a regenerative system, input costs can transition. Emerging digital and technological retailers and producers. However, on the be reduced as the organic matter in soil is capabilities are also giving way to new tools other hand, farmers and other food providers enriched and mutually beneficial relationships that provide valuable insight into soil quality, have been challenged with oversupply issues between different crop and animal species are and crop and animal welfare. as lockdowns and border closures have created, reducing reliance on synthetic pes- caused shortages of seasonal agricultural ticides and fertilisers. Spending USD 78–116 Investments in food collection, redistri- workers in some regions, and impeded the billion on accelerating the adoption of regen- bution, and valorisation infrastructure transfer of goods between other regions. erative production – promoting practices such Farmers typically supplying restaurants and as planting diverse cover crops, no tillage, Each year around the world 1.6 billion cafes have suffered cancelled orders, and and multiple crop rotations – could yield USD tonnes of food is wasted, amounting to USD many have struggled to adjust their offering 2.3–3.5 trillion in lifetime operational cost 1 trillion in economic costs. This lost organic to fit alternative markets. savings. Diversifying the types of food grown matter consists of edible surplus food and In the face of its successes and challenges, can also lead to diversification of farmer inedible by-products, both of which could the food industry has been tasked to become income, subsequently improving both crop- be transformed from costly burdens into more flexible and resilient to meet changing resilience and the resilience of producers’ attractive economic opportunities through needs. As economic stimulus is unveiled for livelihoods in the face of external shocks, such enhanced collection, redistribution, and valo- a post-Covid-19 economic recovery, how that as those created by climate change. risation efforts. In fact, food waste reduction stimulus is channeled into the food system has been found to present an annual will impact food security and business A regenerative food production system economic opportunity worth USD 155–405 survival long-term. Investing in a circular can also provide significant environmental billion by 2030. economy for food provides two key opportu- benefits, improving rather than degrading the nities to this end by: environment on which food production relies. Edible surplus food could be redistributed Farmland LP found that USD 85 million of through food banks, to help improve food › Providing tools to enable farmers to shift farmland – which under conventional farming security and fight hunger, or processed to regenerative agricultural production would have generated USD 8.5 million worth to create new food products and revenue models of ecosystem damage – was able to generate streams as is done by Renewal Mill, a flour- › Increasing food and by-product col- USD 12.9 million of value in ecosystem producing venture using the by-products of lection, redistribution, and valorisation services after being regeneratively farmed. tofu and soy milk production as inputs. Inedible infrastructure Combined with the adoption of practices food by-products, in turn, could be valorised such as no-tillage, the reduced use of syn- to create inputs for agriculture as well as new Enabling farmers to shift to regen- thetic fertilisers and pesticides manufactured materials and bioenergy, depending on the erative agriculture using fossil fuels, also means that switching mixture of by-products present in the stream to regenerative production could—conserva- and technologies available for processing. For Investing in a faster and broader shift tively estimating—reduce total agricultural example, Ananas Anam produces a leather- towards regenerative agriculture could greenhouse gases by a minimum of 17% like material called Piñatex from pineapple offer opportunities to create a healthier and annually. As food production and agriculture leaves that would otherwise be discarded. more resilient food system that benefits are currently responsible for over one fifth of natural systems and people alike. The World all GHG emissions, improvements in this area This infrastructure could also play a critical Economic Forum indicates that by 2030, 191 can have significant global impacts. role in unlocking a variety of environmental Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 33

benefits for the food system. Currently, every year one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. However, if circular solutions were employed to redistribute edible food surplus, while increasing the valorisation of unavoidable by-products and green waste through composting, 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided annually.

Reaping these benefits will require investments in both physical and digital infrastructure. In low-income countries where most food loss occurs directly after har- vesting, investments in increasing the availability of food processing infrastructure that extends the shelf life of food, such as freeze- drying, could be most effective. Meanwhile, in high-income countries, where most food waste is generated at the post-consumer stage and consists of edible food, digital solutions to redistribute this surplus should be developed. For example, the FareShare FoodCloud platform connects large retailers to supply surplus food to local charities.

The policy environment is increasingly supportive of investments in food circulation and valorisation. Japan introduced the Food Waste Recycling Law in 2001 that improved the recycling rates of food-related businesses. Meanwhile, the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy of 2020 set out to create legally binding targets on food waste reduction for each member state. With more innovations for food waste revalorisation popping up, and a growing concern over the issues surrounding food waste, it is likely policies around this matter will also become more commonplace. 34 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Farm to Fork Strategy: an opportunity to rethink the role of packaging in the transition towards JEAN HORNAIN CEO of CITEO sustainable food systems

iteo, the French company in charge GHG emissions, and has a profound impact on the impact of the virus on long supply food of Extended Producer Responsibility biodiversity”3. chains of imported food has also encouraged C (EPR) for household packaging and In order to become sustainable, food consumers to shift towards more local food graphic papers, fully supports the Farm to Fork packaging has to shift towards a circular production, that can lead to food packaging Strategy presented by the European Com- model where resource use and waste are reduction. If this trend towards sustainable mission in May 2020 as part of the European reduced, and reuse and recycling encouraged. food consumption is maintained over time, Green Deal. Aiming to make food systems producers will have to develop more sus- fair, healthy and environmentally friendly, this The need to consider the food tainable packaging solutions because con- initiative is a unique opportunity to rethink the product and its packaging together sumers expect a sustainable product to be in role of packaging in the transition towards sus- Packaging has become a major concern in sustainable packaging. This need to consider tainable food systems. the food sector, both from the point of view of the packaging not in isolation but in combi- When considering accelerating the EU’s producers and consumers. While food safety nation with the product it contains, is reflected transition to sustainable food systems, is and should remain the overarching priority, for instance in consumers’ growing demand to packaging has a decisive role to play. As consumers increasingly pay attention to the ensure that organic products are not packaged quality and environmental impacts of the or when they are, in a sustainable way. underlined by the European Economic and food products they buy, and also that of the The same reflection could be made when Social Committee, “there is an urgent need packaging which contains these products. In considering consumer information. The Farm to improve the sustainability of our food response to this increasing public awareness to Fork Strategy provides for several measures systems, which includes also the development and demand for sustainable food packaging, to empower consumers to make informed, of more sustainable food packaging”1. Sus- companies and retailers are more and more healthy and sustainable food choices, among tainable food packaging is about minimising subscribing to an approach aimed at reducing which the creation of a sustainable labelling the environmental impacts of food packaging packaging’s environmental impacts4, strongly framework that will cover nutritional but also as part of improving the sustainability of the incentivised by the EU current and future climate, environmental and social aspects of packed food, reducing food waste, while pre- policy and legislation on circular economy, food products, a measure reaffirmed within serving food quality and consumer safety. packaging and plastics, which are all relevant the framework of the New Consumer Agenda Food packaging represents two-thirds for food packaging. published by the Commission last week. of total EU packaging in terms of market In addition to these trends, the food industry Although packaging represents a small per- 2 share value . Essential properties in terms of has to take into account the effects of the centage of the overall environmental impact storage, handling, transportation and preser- current global pandemic, consisting of both of the packed food, Citeo is convinced that a vation of food make packaging a necessity. opportunities and risks. Indeed, while the labelling system informing consumers about At the same time, food packaging causes Covid-19 crisis has resulted in an increasing the sustainability of food products should nec- rising concerns on environment due to its use of plastic food packaging for health essarily include the packaging’s environmental high production volume and often short use safety reasons, relegating to a certain extent impacts, both direct and indirect. In addition to time, as well as problems related to littering the sustainability issue to a secondary role, direct environmental effects largely arising and waste management. Alongside manu- via production and disposal, there are also facturing, processing, retailing and transpor- adverse environmental impacts caused by tation, packaging is considered as a “major 3 Communication from the Commission to the inadequate packaging, such as packaging- contribution to air, soil and water pollution and European Parliament, the Council, the European related food waste, that are insufficiently Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy considered in the current food products’ life and environmentally-friendly food system, 20 May cycle analysis (LCA). We believe that con- 2020, COM(2020) 381 final, p. 3. sidering packaging in combination with the 1 European Economic and Social Committee, Recycling 4 As part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New food packaging & food waste in plastics revolution, June Plastics Economy Initiative, several food and drink product it contains would prevent producers 2020, p. 1. producers, including Mars, Evian, Pepsico, Coca-Cola, from opting for alternative packaging seen as 2 Cowi, et al, Eunomia, 2020, in European Economic Unilever and Nestlé have committed to work towards more sustainable but in reality less environ- and Social Committee, Recycling food packaging & food 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by waste in plastics revolution, June 2020, p. 2. 2025 or earlier. mentally friendly when considering its indirect Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 35

environmental impacts, and would help con- to measures and actions reducing (over) moving away from the throw away culture sumers to make the best choices regarding packaging, in line with the EU waste hierarchy. can also be achieved through the devel- both the packed food and the packaging. The However, the environmental burden caused by opment of reuse. Citeo, through its open difficulty lies in the capacity to resolve these the possible food loss resulting from reducing innovation programme “Circular Challenge”, potential conflicts of interest and trade-offs the amount of packaging can have a much aims at supporting emerging solutions via between direct and indirect environmental more significant environmental impact than the financing of projects which enhance the effects of packaging. Citeo recommends using packaging waste. This observation should not environmental performance of existing ini- LCAs to help companies decide on the most prevent the development of alternatives such tiatives or those under development, while sustainable and suitable solution for their as edible packaging, which may be relevant guaranteeing that the solutions can be scaled packaging. for certain applications. Even more than for to industrial processes. Many innovative and other packaging categories, there is no one concrete reuse solutions have thus been iden- The need to develop solutions to size fit all solution with food packaging. tified and supported by Citeo, both in France shift towards a circular model of If the most common solution adopted and abroad. food packaging by food companies opting for more sus- When developing sustainable food tainable packaging is the switch to alternative packaging, the priority should be given materials to replace single use plastics,

Pandobac: a service of reusable con- stores organic liquid food products, equipment is detrimental to reuse from an environmental tainers available to wholesalers for specialized for the bulk sale of these products, point of view. the delivery of fresh products replacing as well as reusable bottles. This initiative, single-use packaging selected as finalist of the Circular Challenge in At the regional level, associations and Born in 2018 from the realization that food 2017, fully meets Citeo’s overarching goal of companies offer local solutions delivery packaging generates large amounts of waste in restaurants, Pandobac offers a service replacing disposable packaging with reusable containers to any type of wholesaler or supplier. The reusable containers are designed in PP or HDPE single material to ensure they are recyclable. 200 000 disposable packages have already been avoided. This French start-up also provides monitoring and cleaning services, thus closing the loop of the circular economy. Reducing packaging waste while promoting short circuits and the local economy, Pandobac was awarded with the Circular Chal- lenge’s collaborative innovation and territory prize by Citeo in 2019. While the majority of reuse in France is captured by the B2B segments (either coffee hotel restaurant circuits or industrial reducing the amount of packaging placed on The Farm to Fark Strategy provides for a packaging), most reuse initiatives are currently the market and extending the packaging’s shelf legislative initiative on reuse in food services, developing on the B2C market, driven by local life when reduction is not possible, while relying aiming to substitute single-use food packaging initiatives. on consumer mobilization and engagement. To and cutlery by reusable products. This support bars and brewers in the context of the proposal, planned for 2021 under the sus- Jean Bouteille: a solution that combines Covid-19, Jean Bouteille also helps them bottle tainable products initiative announced in the bulk and reuse to transform con- their beers to allow take-away solutions. new Circular Economy Action Plan, already has sumption habits As they can help achieve the needed an equivalent at the French level. We maintain systemic changes in our production and con- that the EU could also promote new solutions sumption patterns and have already proven by using its funding programmes, and by sup- to be effective in the beverage sector, reuse porting the Member States to distribute “green systems need to be further promoted to vouchers” in order to accelerate the transition enhance the sustainability of food packaging, to sustainable food systems, including the as a complement to recycling solutions that are development of reuse. also relevant and need to be further developed Promoting the uptake of recycled, renewable as well. Both the EU and French regulatory and innovative materials that achieve genuine framework offer an opportunity to incentivize environmental benefits and avoid burden the development of reuse, which is particularly shifts is also a solution. In this regard, the relevant at the local level. While Citeo is con- Commission plans to revise the food contact Jean Bouteille combines the bulk sale of vinced of the environmental, economic and materials legislation. For the food packaging liquids with a deposit system for bottles to allow social benefits of reuse, we must not lose sight industry, it is indeed crucial to remove the consumers to purchase liquid products without of the fact that reuse solutions make sense at regulatory obstacles to the use recyclable and generating waste. This French start-up created the local level, considering that the transpor- recycled materials, while ensuring that the in 2012 in the North of France offers food tation of reusable packaging on long distance highest levels of food safety are guaranteed. 36 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe BBI JU - launching the circular bio-based economy in Europe

PHILIPPE MENGAL Executive Director of Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU)

n these globally challenging times, EU resources. The vast majority of BBI JU projects funded projects. The partnership is expected policies such as the European Green Deal transform previously underutilised leftovers to invest massively in coming years, in order I and the Farm to Fork Strategy are key to from agriculture, forestry and fisheries into to achieve its ambitious goals and to pave the reaching the EU’s climate and societal goals, valuable bio-based materials and products. way for climate neutrality by 2050. while addressing the consequences of the By making farming side-products fully pandemic. European bio-based industries circular and developing new, sustainable crop Examples of BBI JU success stories: are part of the solution, as they enable new protection and stimulation, BBI JU projects Disposable nappies have a sizable environ- - circular and sustainable - production of enable the shift to a more sustainable food mental impact. 8.5 thousand tons of such consumer goods. production system. All feedstock used must waste are incinerated or landfilled in Europe be sustainably sourced in Europe and not every year. The EMBRACED project has The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking compete with food production. developed collection and recycling systems in (BBI JU) is a €3.7 billion partnership between several EU countries, which turn used nappies the European Commission and the Bio-based Thanks to their circular production cycle, into profitable new materials, such as organic Industries Consortium (BIC) that supports the over 80% of BBI JU projects anticipate lower fertilizers or packaging films. development of innovative and competitive greenhouse gas emissions compared to bio-based industries in Europe. It helps de- fossil-based counterparts, while 75% of them The GreenProtein project is transforming risking investments for the construction and contribute to waste reduction and valorisation, leftovers from green vegetables and field deployment of biorefineries across Europe to reuse and recycling. In addition, most BBI JU crops into high-grade protein for the food contribute to a more sustainable low-emission projects are reducing energy consumption, industry. The finished product is a viable alter- economy. improving the land use and water efficiency, native to egg whites and whey protein - and as well as developing more sustainable use has huge commercial potential. In this way, Since its establishment in 2014, BBI JU of natural and existing unused resources. The the project combines fighting food waste and has funded over 120 projects, in particular 11 11 biorefineries funded by BBI JU will generate producing alternative plant-based proteins. flagship biorefineries at commercial scale and over 3,500 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs in The project team expects to process up to most importantly first-of-their-kind in Europe, both urban and rural areas and are expected to 4,000 tons of leftovers per year.

with high replicability potential. reduce about 600,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The FIRST2RUN flagship project cultivated The BBI JU concept has a high leverage oil crops on arid and marginal lands in effect. For a contribution of €720 million of Such impacts show that bio-based industries Sardinia, to be used in the production of biolu- public funding, the industry will invest close have already achieved a lot in Europe and are bricants, cosmetics, bioplastics and additives. to €2 billion in the biorefineries and dem- paving the way towards a climate-neutral Leftovers from the production process were onstration plants. Moreover, BBI JU projects continent. With the benefits they provide to used for energy, feed for animals and added- mobilise all relevant stakeholders – primary the environment and society, they are key value chemicals, thus making the value chain producers, large industries, SMEs, clusters, contributors to Europe’s green recovery and even more sustainable. trade associations, academia, research centres to the objectives of the EU Green Deal. and end-users – to develop technologies and More information business models advancing Europe’s green BBI JU founding partners are now proposing Visit BBI JU website economy, thus structuring the sector’s value a more ambitious initiative to start in 2021. chains. Among other benefits, these projects The European Partnership for Circular Bio- Read the publication ‘BBI JU: a high-impact ini- allow diversifying and growing farmers’ based Europe (CBE) will continue the biore- tiative for green recovery of Europe’ income, leading to stronger rural areas and finery deployment in Europe, while involving local communities across Europe. all stakeholders along the value chain, Watch the video ‘BBI JU – Launching the strengthening collaboration with regional circular economy’ BBI JU is placing sustainability at the heart of actors and systematically measuring the production by enabling a fully circular use of environmental and socio-economic impacts of Follow BBI JU on Twitter and LinkedIn Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 37 What measures should be taken in terms of innovation, in order to achieve the F2F goals? PAOLO DE CASTRO MEP (S&D Group) Member of the AGRI Committee

ith the ‘Farm to Fork strategy,’ we versus biotech, extensive versus intensive, can focus on long-term solutions, considering have the chance to implement a natural versus chemical, climate change adap- the diversity of contexts in which the innovation W comprehensive political approach to tation versus mitigation, smallholders versus is to be applied, and its social and environmental responding to food systems. Research and inno- ‘Big Farm’, and so on. sustainability. vation play a pivotal role in this respect. Thus, the first innovation I wish for the ‘Farm As far as innovation is concerned, the public We are still at the beginning of the debate. We to Fork’ debate is that it brings us beyond these sector should accelerate the shift from the “inno- share the goals but not the way to achieve them. ‘monocultures’ in our heads. Innovation thrives vation transfer” linear model (from the academy We know “what” we want, but we are still working in the more profound interconnection of diverse to research centers, then technical assistance, on “how” to get it. Especially in agriculture, the knowledge and experiences, even ‘soi-disant’ and, finally, farmers) to an “innovations co- “how” issue is crucial in many aspects. Innovation opposed ones. We need feasible alternatives, not creation and interconnection” one. That requires makes no exception. slogans. That is even more important if we keep remarkable efforts in human capital, especially. in mind the sensitiveness of innovation in food The awareness of the “what” is due to hard production, which often raised social acceptance We are not starting from scratch. The interna- facts. For years the debate on agriculture and issues. A more result-oriented attitude in the tional wheat genome project’s results are a clear food production had been about feeding 9-10 debate could improve the mutual understanding example of public support’s added value on the billion humans on the planet while reducing between farmers and consumers on their research side. On the innovation side, the 2013 the environmental impact. The acceleration of respective needs and perspectives about sus- CAP reform started up innovation “Operational climate change and digitization makes things tainable innovations. groups” on productivity and sustainability in more complicated. Today, the challenge is pro- agriculture all over the European regions. Those viding food to the world while polluting less, in Focusing on innovation at the farm level groups, composed of farmers, researchers, an increasingly precarious climatic situation, and requires a combination of financial support, reg- and citizens, have been experimenting with a potentially disrupting technological revolution ulatory interventions, and investment in human sustainable solutions on everyday problems at ongoing. Sustainable development is not an capital at the EU and national level. the farm level. Improving and accelerating the option. It is the only development conceivable. exchange and the interconnection of those expe- I give an example. Public financial support riences is a promising pathway to apply those “How” to do that in practice is a complicated for building infrastructures is necessary to solutions on the farm. matter. Agriculture is highly contextual. It is accelerate farm digitization. But we also need a about diverse territories, characterized by proper framework for data ownership. Farmers’ On top of the support for long-term research specific soil compositions and sun irradiation training is especially critical, as well as it is the and human capital, regulatory aspects are conditions, often with peculiar micro-climate communication to society about the gains in the essential. In this perspective, I look forward to patterns. The agronomical practices are dif- social and environmental sustainability of the the European Commission’s orientations on the ferent, as the social structures bearing the man- new technologies adopted. modern molecular biology techniques in agri- agement practices. Innovation itself is something culture. It has to be specified that those new that needs to be tested and adapted at the farm In my view, this means having the public techniques have nothing to do with the previous level. Sustainability in agriculture depends on sector back as the pivot of research. Since the biotechnology methods (GMOs), the so-called many and interconnected variables. There are Green Revolution – that achieved great results “Frankenstein food”; new sustainable biotech- many indicators, but none of them applies to all on the economic and social side, far less for the nologies simply replicate natural evolution pro- places and contexts. Against this background, a environment – the EU (and the US) public funds cesses, enabling the design of new varieties that pragmatic approach is the least we can offer. in research in agriculture has been shrinking. Cor- fit local needs. porate investment replaced most of the funding, The political decision on the regulatory Unfortunately, often the EU political debate and that is valid and useful. But it is mostly short- framework for those techniques is critical to does not take those aspects into sufficient term and mostly based on production scales to promote a varietal innovation less dependent on account. Most of it resembles religious wars, irre- maximize the return rate on investments as chemicals and big-scale production. spective of the farms’ practical situation: organic rapidly as possible. Instead, public investment 38 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Ensuring Product Safety and Physical Traceability Is Crucial

JEAN-PIERRE MASSICOT CEO of ATT

he European Union’s Farm to Fork crisis, proving without the shadow of a doubt chain, it lacks a key attribute: security, i.e. the Strategy undoubtedly marks a that criminal networks are taking advantage physical security of the products. It appears T major turning point for the coming of the disruption of the supply chains to that, despite all transactions – purchases, years and reflects the ambition to make the introduce counterfeit, non-compliant or illegal transport, deliveries – being legitimate, fake European food system safer, healthier, and products into the flows. goods are being introduced into the value more invested in sustainable development. It is therefore absolutely essential to chain. OK, products are bought at one location For the first time, the European Union is ensure the safety of the food value chain, on and delivered to another one, but how can giving itself the means to implement a “Food the one hand to protect the consumer, and on we make sure that fakes are not introduced Value Chain” regulation with clear and meas- the other hand, in the event of a crisis such somewhere along the line, either upstream or urable objectives throughout the entire value as the one we have experienced, to ensure downstream? By taking advantage of the lack chain, from production and distribution to the safety, stability and resilience of the chain of physical Track and Trace Solutions, this is consumption. itself. It is also crucial to clearly differentiate precisely how unscrupulous operators and This comprehensive strategy sets out the between the actors involved in the quality and criminals successfully operate. legislative initiatives for the years to come safety of the food value chain and the other Imagine a monetary system where trans- aiming at making the European food system stakeholders. actions would be totally secured through more sustainable in terms of environmental Blockchain (or any another solution) but notes impact while bringing economic, social and Blockchain, the Illusion of a Solution and denominations would not! Counterfeit health benefits. Two of the most striking ini- How can this be achieved? Blockchain banknotes would seamlessly blend in with the tiatives are undoubtingly the safety and sus- technologies-related initiatives are currently genuine ones, ultimately destroying the entire tainable development of the food value chain, flourishing. But beyond the “buzzword”, what system and public trust. This is exactly what as they impact consumer health safety. exactly does this mean? Very schematically, is currently happening in the food value chain. Blockchain is a technology for storing and And consumers are fully aware of it. Food Value Chain at Risk transmitting encrypted and distributed infor- The safety of the European food system is mation, without any central storage facility. It Ensuring the Physical Security of threatened on multiple fronts. Illegal, unde- records all the transactions carried out from Products: Authenticating & Tracing clared or unregulated activities have been a given moment onwards and distributes The only viable manner to truly secure a rampant in the supply chain for a long time: them in “blocks”, which makes it possible, system, food or any other, is to incorporate false designations, outdated recycled and through comparison, to detect any data a unitary identification and a digital security reprocessed products, fake organic products, falsification. As Blockchain technology has marking physically on the products – or on the substitution of authorised substances by worked wonders in finance and fintech, it is the primary container closest to the product dangerous ones, the introduction of or sub- now seeking to integrate other application – to authenticate the latter and trace them stitution by fake products in the circuits are areas. In the food value chain, for example, it unitarily throughout their life cycle. A number dramatic examples of the criminal practices would be possible to secure all transactions: of health, cosmetics, and luxury goods com- to which consumers are exposed. According every invoice, transport and delivery note panies (some close to the food industry) to some studies, 1 in 3 French people has could be identified, integrated into the value which are under extreme pressure from bought counterfeit food. chain and their integrity checked. By doing so, illicit practices have long understood and In addition to these “frequent” illicit it would be possible to secure the entire value implemented this system. This technology practices, the COVID crisis has highlighted the chain, and, as a result, the entire food value has enabled them to successfully detect and importance of a resilient supply chain capable chain. reduce fraud and embezzlement, control of surviving such a major shock without any Blockchain technology is an excellent tool production and distribution channels and disruption. While the supply chain partly for transaction security. But is it able to ensure networks, attract and reassure their con- withstood the shock of the crisis, it did not the security of the food system? The answer sumers, and secure their loyalty. Product come out unscathed: the number of seizures is a clear and resounding NO. It can only physical security and unitary traceability is of non-compliant, expired or altered food secure transactions. Although it is capable the only way to guarantee a secured food products was considerably higher during the of securing operations along the value value chain. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 39

Advantages of the Digital Unitary Authentication Technology (PUF1) in Ensuring Product Physical Security First, with the digital traceability authentication technology, forgeries can be detected immediately and remotely thanks to the product unitary digital identifier, or “Digital ID”: the product, marked for its lifetime, can be authen- ticated and traced at all stages in the supply chain all the way to the consumer. Second, any illicit practice will be detected, too. Why has the code disappeared? Digitize Products: security, traceability, consumer engagement Why are these products no solution by Advanced Track and Trace longer in their original batch or consignment? How come they end up on a market which is not the one third party, and on the other, with the infor- being implemented. Europe will unques- they were initially intended for? Why has the mation brands consider relevant to differ- tionably become one of the most regulated product been tampered with? When irregu- entiate themselves from their competitors but safest food regions in the world. This larities are detected, corrective measures and promote their products. Moreover, these represents a tremendous opportunity for are taken, either at the manufacturer level digital technologies are extremely flexible producers and manufacturers to implement or, in the event of a health risk, at the level of and scalable: the information available to real safety and traceability strategies and to the authorities; product recalls are targeted the consumer can be adapted in time and integrate these assets to ensure and regain and safe; product monitoring, and manu- space, in keeping with current events and consumer confidence in Europe and beyond. facturer – or brand – organisation is up to circumstances. So, they enable virtuous For the other regions of the world, Asia scratch. companies to highlight their involvement in or the Americas, where consumers share improving the food value chain and promote the same concerns and fears, the demand Improved Information and Relations the benefits of their products. for authenticable European products with with the Consumer guaranteed traceability is growing rapidly, In addition to safety benefits, the digital Economically Viable Solutions opening up new opportunities and markets marking technologies provide a crucial Finally, marking technologies are the for companies that know how to evolve and benefit to manufacturers as regards perfect answer to the problems of economic adapt. The technologies are available, they consumer relations. Producers need to feasibility. In the wake of the publication of are safe, proven, and economically viable prepare today for the new packaging and the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, concern arose and – if it were the EU political will – would labelling rules. The packaging space taken regarding the costs of implementing such even fit effortlessly into the eIDAS trust up by mandatory information – labelling of measures. Some warned against the risk of environment. The companies that use them origin or place of provenance, nutritional exploding costs, leading to indebtedness and are the first to stand out and benefit from information, as well as climate, environment, the disappearance of the actors most at risk, this new environment. and even social data – will increase consid- such as SMEs, organic producers, or small erably in the future, leaving little space for producers. Fortunately, digital marking tech- About Advanced Track & Trace producer information. So, new labelling nologies are extremely cost-efficient and Advanced Track & Trace® develops inno- practices will have to be put in place, as can be implemented at minimal cost, largely vative authentication, identification and consumers will no longer be satisfied with offset by the commercial and other benefits. tracking technologies for a better protection the limited information provided by the They integrate seamlessly into existing of products, companies, citizens, and trade. manufacturer. With consumers becoming marking and printing processes, require no For over 15 years, Advanced Track & Trace® increasingly demanding, producers need additional consumables – no special inks, no has had trust-based relationships with leading to find new channels to demonstrate the holograms, and no special tags – and have a customers and partners: companies, gov- quality of their products, maintain trust and zero-carbon footprint. So, the cost of these ernments, institutions, based on its ability to build consumer loyalty. solutions is more than offset by the users’ offer creative, valuable, reliable, and durable Through digital marking technologies, a benefits, both in terms of safety and the solutions. www.att-fr.com simple click on a smartphone connects the relationship of trust with the consumer. For more information, please contact info@ brands directly to the consumers to supply The Farm-to-Fork Strategy is undeniably att-fr.com them, on the one hand, with the compulsory one of the most ambitious initiatives at the indications that can be certified by a trusted global level aiming at ensuring the safety and sustainability of a food system. All the implications are not yet fully known 1 PUF : Physical Unclonable Function and will become clearer as the Strategy is 40 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe How to make food trade work for consumers and the planet

MONIQUE GOYENS BEUC Director General

ast May, the European Commission sustainability, regardless of whether other instance.6 As such, most EU consumers have unveiled the Farm to Fork Strategy, its world players are doing the same.3 To ensure little means to know whether the chicken in masterplan to shift the EU food system that those who export food into the EU do their nuggets was raised according to the EU’s L 1 onto a more sustainable path. It is all well abide by the same rules as those that apply animal welfare standards, or whether the and good to aim at greener food production, to EU farmers and food producers, EU trade beef they order at the restaurant might be but for the EU’s blueprint to deliver we need policy must go beyond cooperation and linked to deforestation.7 coherence across all policies affecting food – dialogue. including trade policy. The Farm to Fork Strategy commits the The EU should follow the example of its own European Commission to presenting a There is a major inconsistency to solve legislation on veterinary medicinal products. proposal for a legislative framework for a here. While the EU strives for sustainable It was reviewed in 2019 and the new law, sustainable food system by the end of 2023 food production at home, it continues which will apply as of 2022, will oblige third to make sustainability central to all food- importing products that do not meet its own country producers exporting animal products related policies. This initiative, together with requirements for environmental protection to the EU to follow our rules and restrictions the ongoing review of the EU’s trade policy,8 and animal welfare. governing the prudent use of antimicrobials. is a golden opportunity to align all policies Despite the major health threat posed by anti- affecting food, including trade policy, with the Currently, imported food must only meet microbial resistance, some trading partners Green Deal’s objectives. The EU must seize the EU’s safety and labelling rules – and yet, have criticised this move, arguing that the it to finally make food trade work for- con there are issues with controls meant to check measures will affect international trade.4 It is sumers and the planet. that this is effectively the case. Only recently, likely that similar concerns would be voiced an audit2 by the European Commission were the EU to introduce rules to make the services found that the Canadian food safety healthy choice easier for consumers (by authorities are failing to ensure that beef mandating simplified nutrition labelling on exported to the EU complies with the EU’s ban the front-of-pack, for instance via the use of on the use of growth promoting hormones – Nutri-Score as BEUC is calling for).5 which are allowed in Canada. So long as trade agreements fail to suf- It is a must that the food we import from ficiently recognise factors other than food third countries complies with all the rules safety (say, ethical considerations linked we have democratically set for ourselves in to animal welfare) as a legitimate reason the EU. No wonder so many EU farmers are to regulate, consumers are left with little dragging their feet to move towards more option but to look for a food’s origin to assure sustainable production practices. It is simply themselves that it meets EU regulations because they fear they might be exposed to and standards. Sadly, this information is still unfair unsustainable competition from third missing from many products – including countries. meat that is used in processed foodstuffs for 6 Some EU countries (incl. Finland, France) have We recently found that consumers adopted temporary measures (pending EU-level expect the EU to continue to lead on food policy discussion and possible harmonisation) 3 BEUC, One bite at a time: consumers and the requiring food businesses to label the origin of transition to sustainable food. Analysis of a survey meat used as an ingredient in processed foods. of European consumers on attitudes towards 7 Very few EU countries (incl. Finland, France) 1 European Commission. ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy sustainable food. June 2020. require the origin of meat served in restaurants and for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food 4 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news18_e/ the catering sector to be indicated to the consumer. system. May 2020. sps_12jul18_e.htm 8 See BEUC’s response to the public consultation 2 https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit_ 5 https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x- on the review of the EU’s trade policy and its more reports/details.cfm?rep_id=4287 2019-033_front-of-pack_nutritional_labelling.pdf detailed position. Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe | T he E uropean F iles | 41 PLANETARY DIETS: the Power is on our plates, and on

BRENT LOKEN JABIER RUIZ our food policies! Global Food Lead Senior Policy Officer, Scientist for WWF Agriculture and Food, WWF-European Policy Office

e all want to make the world a and low in environmental impact) not only policymakers. We are convinced that to better place. But what power reduce environmental damage and harm to accelerate dietary shifts a supportive policy W does one person actually have? Is our health, they can also be restorative — a framework can play a crucial role, especially it really possible to stop deforestation in the true “win-win”. These diverse and flexible by modifying our food environments, thus Amazon? Or help keep the polar ice caps from dietary patterns can help restore nature by making the healthy sustainable choice the melting? Or save tigers and orangutans from cutting greenhouse gas emissions, halting easiest option for everyone. going extinct? In short, yes! Wisely choosing deforestation, and saving wildlife. the food that we put on our plates may be the The past year has been devastating in many most powerful action that each of us can take Some people may argue that warnings of ways — from the Covid 19 pandemic to intense to make the world a better place. And accom- the catastrophic impacts of the destruction of fires raging from the Arctic to Amazon. But panying individual actions with a supportive nature are alarmist: the human population has it has also shown us that a new and better suite of food-related policies can massively never been healthier, and food has never been world is possible. The EU’s Farm to Fork scale up the impact. more plentiful; the human species has always Strategy has rightfully underlined the cen- advanced by utilising natural resources and trality of an integrated food policy to achieve Just how is food connected to defores- it has in fact been positive and necessary for the desired change. However, it has only tation, climate change and wildlife? Many our species to thrive. timidly addressed the need to change food studies, including the 2020 Living Planet consumption patterns in Europe, and more Report, have shown that how we produce and But this argument is inherently flawed. initiatives than those announced in the Farm consume food is one of the biggest drivers Although agricultural revolutions of the past to Fork Strategy will need to be undertaken of our planet’s deteriorating health. There is have enabled us to feed more people, and in the coming years: from improving National good news though — the main conclusions the rapid productivity gains since the “green Dietary Guidelines to setting minimum VAT from this growing body of research are that: revolution” have spurred improvements in levels on fruits and vegetables. 1) we still have time to reverse course and human health, these gains have come at the restore nature; 2) there are win-win solutions expense of the environment. Current global The evidence is out there. The time for talk available today that are good for people and food production depends on practices that is over. It’s now time to roll up our sleeves and planet; and 3) what we eat matters. cross planetary boundaries, taking us into get to work. dangerous territory and an uncertain future. In fact, what we eat matters a lot. Our food systems have caused 70% of biodiversity loss So far, increased food productivity has on land and 50% in water; they’re responsible been able to stay ahead of the effects of a for around 25% of all greenhouse gas deteriorating environment — but this time lag emissions; and they’ve caused 80% of global has masked the underlying symptoms of a deforestation. Our dietary choices aren’t just planet in crisis, and tricked us into believing damaging the planet, they are also damaging that exploitation of the Earth’s resources is our own health. Unhealthy diets now pose a without reckoning. Far from being alarmist, greater risk of morbidity and mortality than there is now overwhelming scientific evidence unsafe sex and alcohol, drug and tobacco use that our past actions are catching up with us. combined. Humanity has never before needed to The solution is right on our plates. change the food system so radically at this scale or speed. With this new study, accom- In Bending the Curve: The Restorative panied by a new Impact & Action Calculator, Power of Planet-Based Diets, launched in we hope to help remove some of the barriers October 2020, we demonstrate that planet- that in the past have prevented action being based diets (high in human health benefits taken on the ground, from individuals to 42 | T he E uropean F iles | Farm to Fork: Towards a sustainable and resilient food system in Europe Farm to Fork and the urgent need for a food transformation

There is an urgent need to transform our food

LENA ROHN consumption and diet towards a greener food system Animal Protection Denmark with focus on animal welfare, climate change and Board representative, Eurogroup for Animals (Animal Welfare association) biodiversity loss.

ach year more than 11 million live growing corps for animal production. We much easier. We call the label “Method-of- pigs are sent from Denmark to desti- need a transition towards a much larger Production+” (MoP+). The label will combine E nations around Europe to finally end organic production of plant-based food, and information on method of production and on the dinner table as ham or sausages. The we need a transition towards a significantly animal welfare based on a core set of animal transports often last more than 8 hours and smaller scale of meat production. Further, we welfare indicators. An example of method- the pigs are exposed to severe distress in must aim to produce animal products with of-production information is the marking of the form of injuries, stress, overheating or a high level of animal welfare, i.e. methods shell eggs solid in the EU (Intensive indoor, cold – in some cases resulting in death. Vul- of production characterized by free range, standard indoor, extensive indoor, free range). nerable animals such as calves are sent on more space, no mutilations, more adjusted The MoP+ label will be a multilevel label. equally long transports even though these and robust breeds, short periods of transport We envision the label to be mandatory young animals are not yet able to drink by and humane slaughter. By producing less so all products, and not just the products themselves. The majority of all Danish dairy but better meat, the EU can accommodate that perform well on animal welfare, are cows are never allowed to graze as they are the need for a sustainable and resilient food labelled. The label will provide high quality kept indoor all their lives. Conditions, that system with a high level of animal welfare. and objective information to the consumers. causes leg and hoofs problems among other Good animal welfare is also expected Furthermore, it will set improvement targets issues. Fast growing broilers also suffer with by consumers. To quote the Farm to Fork easily identifiable for producers to encourage leg problems, as the broilers grow so fast Strategy. “It is also clear that citizens want them to aim for the highest level of the label. that they cannot carry their own bodyweight. this” [ed.: better animal welfare]. Similarly, MoP+ is one way towards a food transfor- Millions of egg laying hens are kept in small consumers are increasingly focusing on - and mation in the EU and a future with greener, cages without possibility to live out their expecting – products that are at the same healthier food with the highest level of animal natural behaviour. Living conditions, you also time healthy, climate and biodiversity friendly. welfare. see for tons of fish in aquaculture. Being a conscious consumer needs to be Additionally, The Common Agricultural These cases are just some examples of how much easier, and the EU should encourage Policy should support a transition towards the current food system has massive negative the consumption of less but better meat organic, plant-based consumption. One impact on the welfare for many millions and green alternatives. Changing food con- obvious way is funding promotion of plant- of animals. However, animals are sentient sumption patterns requires initiatives on the based products rather than meat and dairy beings, and consequently we have an ethical, supply and the demand side. products. moral and legal obligation to treat them as A new food policy should secure con- With the Farm to Fork Strategy the agenda such. As we are entering a new era of a sus- sumers easy access to attractive, affordable, towards a future sustainable food system has tainable and resilient food system it is not an fresh and locally produced products through been set. A system that combines the urgent option to continue to produce food relying on stimulating organic production of plant-based need to improve animal welfare, health and intensive animal production and massive con- food and organic extensive farming. This pre- food quality and to help preserve biodiversity sumption of animal products. Our food policy supposes a close coupling between the Food and environment. needs rethinking. Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. Let us seize this golden opportunity to A new EU food polic y must acknowledge On the demand side it is important to make real improvements for farm animals animal welfare as an integral part of a sus- provide clear and high-quality information and fish in our food system! tainable and resilient food system, and it to ease consumers’ choice of healthy and needs to take climate change and biodiversity sustainable food to foster more plant-based loss into account as well. Like the EU Com- consumption. The EU Commission points out mission states in its Farm to Fork Strategy: various measures, among others labelling “There is an urgent need to …..increase organic schemes. Each of these have relevant farming, improve animal welfare, and reverse elements, but we need a more holistic view biodiversity loss.” of the Europeans’ plate. In Eurogroup for In Denmark two-thirds of our land area Animals we point to a new way of labelling is farmed and 60 % of the land is used for food that would make the consumers’ choice From Farm to Fork: Our food, our health, our planet, our future

The European Green Deal

May 2020 #EUGreenDeal Moving towards a more healthy and sustainable EU food system, a corner stone of the European Green Deal

Make sure Europeans get Tackle climate Protect the environment Fair economic Increase organic healthy, affordable and change and preserve biodiversity return in the food farming sustainable food chain

“The coronavirus crisis has shown how vulnerable we all are, and how important it is to restore the balance between human activity and nature. At the heart of the Green Deal the Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies point to a new and better balance of nature, food systems and biodiversity; to protect our people’s health and well-being, and at the same time to increase the EU’s competitiveness and resilience. These strategies are a crucial part of the great transition we are embarking upon.” Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

The use of pesticides in agriculture contributes to pollution of soil, water and air. The Commission will take actions to: reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030. reduce by 50% the use of more hazardous pesticides by 2030.

The excess of nutrients in the environment is a major source of air, soil and water pollution, negatively impacting biodiversity and climate. The Commission will act to: reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, while ensuring no deterioration on soil fertility. reduce fertilizer use by at least 20% by 2030.

Antimicrobial resistance linked to the use of antimicrobials in animal and human health leads to an estimated 33,000 human deaths in the EU each year. The Commission will reduce by 50% the sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture by 2030.

Organic farming is an environmentally-friendly practice that needs to be further developed. The Commission will boost the development of EU organic farming area with the aim to achieve 25% of total farmland under organic farming by 2030. Making the transition happen: informed choices and efficiency gains

The creation of a healthy food environment which makes the healthy and sustainable choice the easy choice.

sh a It is estimated that in l p s n U A healthy and plant based n o the EU in over 2017 g n i t

k diet reduces the risk of life r

l deaths a

c 950,000 threatening diseases and

a were attributable to

b the environmental impact s

Food labelling to empower consumers to choose healthy and sustainable diets tock e S ob Ad © The Commission will propose mandatory harmonised front-of-pack nutrition labelling and develop a sustainable food labelling framework that covers the nutritional, climate, environmental and social aspects of food products.

Stepping up the fight against food waste

Halving per capita The Commission will propose legally food waste at retail binding targets to reduce food waste and consumer levels by across the EU by 2023. 2030.

Research and innovation EUR 10 billion under Horizon Europe to be invested in R&I related to food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and environment. Knowledge transfer will be essential. The CAP’s Farm advisory services and Farm sustainabilty data network will be instrumental in assisting farmers in the transition.

Promoting the Global transition Making European food famous for its sustainability can add a competitive advantage and open new business opportunities for European farmers. The EU will collaborate with third countries and international actors to support a global move towards sustainable food systems. A sustainability food labelling framework will facilitate consumer choice.

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