European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, a new forum tasked with formulating a common vision for the future of the EU agricultural and food system.
The Strategic Dialogue, announced by the President in her 2023 State of the Union address, will address challenges and opportunities raised by dialogue participants, such as providing an equitable standard of living for farmers and rural communities, and supporting agriculture within our region's borders. The planet and its ecosystems, exploiting the enormous opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation, and promoting a prosperous future for the EU food system in a competitive world.
Professor Peter Strohschneider was appointed Chairman, based on his long experience, in particular as Chairman of the “Committee on the Future of Agriculture” of the German Federal Government.
The Strategic Dialogue brings together key stakeholders from across the entire agri-food chain, including farmers, cooperatives, agri-food companies and rural communities; As well as non-governmental organizations, civil society representatives, financial institutions and academia. A series of thematic meetings will be organized after the launch meeting to be held in the first half of 2024.
The Council and the European Parliament will participate in this process, and the President, Professor Ströschneider, will regularly inform and exchange views with both institutions on the dialogue.
By bringing together different points of view, the Dialogue aims to promote the creation of new solutions and achieve a common vision for the future of the EU agriculture and food sector by summer 2024. The Chair, working in cooperation with the dialogue participants, will determine the precise shape of the conclusions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “It is time to forge a new consensus on food and agriculture between farmers, rural communities and all other actors in the EU agri-food chain. EU farmers and the food industry provide our citizens with healthy food.” “And high-quality food, making a central contribution to our economy, especially in rural areas. They are also making a tremendous effort to contribute to our collective green and digital transformations. But at the same time, they face a wide range of challenges,” ranging from climate change, to inflation, to… Volatile market effects. Through this strategic dialogue, we are creating a forum to provide a clear vision for the future, for the benefit of all.”
background
In her 2023 State of the European Union address, President von der Leyen announced that the European Commission would launch a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU.
In her opening remarks at the EU Agri-Food Days, the President added that the dialogue will be officially launched in January 2024, with the aim of addressing relevant issues such as:
– How can we give our farmers and the rural communities in which they live a better perspective, including a fair standard of living?
– How can we support agriculture within the boundaries of our planet and its ecosystem?
– How can we better take advantage of the enormous opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation?
– How can we promote a bright and prosperous future for Europe's food system in a competitive world?
The strategic dialogue aims to cover all policies related to agriculture and food production to enhance our understanding of current and expected challenges. The dialogue will be an opportunity to hear the views, ambitions, concerns and solutions of farmers and other key stakeholders from across the agri-food chain. This will allow for a focused and meaningful discussion to find common ground for the future of the agri-food sector in the Union.
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