European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture. This would help develop a collective vision for the EU agricultural and food system.
As stated in the President's 2023 State of the Union Address, the Strategic Dialogue will address the challenges and opportunities identified by participants. The Forum aims to ensure a fair standard of living for farmers and rural communities, support sustainable agriculture, benefit from technological innovation, and promote a prosperous future for the EU food system.
Professor Peter Strohschneider, known for his role as Chairman of the German Commission on the Future of Agriculture, has been appointed its Chairman. The forum will consist of key stakeholders from the agri-food chain, NGOs, financial institutions and academia. Thematic meetings will follow the inaugural meeting in 2024.
The Dialogue seeks to find new solutions by bringing together diverse perspectives, with the aim of forming a common vision for the EU agriculture and food sector by summer 2024. The Chair, in cooperation with the participants, will define the final form of the conclusions.
President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the need for a new consensus on food and agriculture, recognizing the challenges faced by the sector, including climate change, inflation and volatile market impacts. The strategic dialogue is expected to enhance understanding of these challenges and provide a platform for targeted discussions on the future of the agri-food sector in the Union.
Source: ec.europa.eu