On February 19, the European Commission presented a new Roadmap for a thriving EU and agri-food sector. The new “Vision for Agriculture and Food” is a bold roadmap to ensure sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience of the agri-food sector. The strategy prioritises simplifying policies, boosting digital innovation, and supporting farmers through fair incomes, upskilling, and generational renewal. By generating €900 billion in added value and employing around 30 million citizens, the agri-food system is a cornerstone of the EU’s economy,. Nevertheless, the sector faces demographic challenges, with only 12% of farmers under the age of 40, highlighting the need for strategies to attract younger generations.
The Commission’s Vision builds upon insights and recommendations from the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, a forum established in January 2024. This dialogue brought together different stakeholders from across the agri-food chain, including farmers, cooperatives, businesses, rural communities, NGOs, financial institutions, and academia.
The Vision outlines several priority areas to address various challenges confronting the agri-food sector. First, ensuring fair income for farmers by combating unfair trading practices and promoting transparency within the food supply chain. This includes creating opportunities for young people in rural areas and encouraging future generations to pursue agricultural careers.
Secondly, the Vision wants a simplification of EU Rules. In fact, reducing regulatory complexity and administrative burdens can make the sector more competitive. The Commission plans to introduce a “simplification package” to streamline the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), addressing concerns raised by farmers regarding bureaucratic hurdles.
The Vision highlights also the importance of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization to drive sustainable agricultural practices and leveraging digital technologies to enhance productivity and environmental stewardship. This new approach to research and innovation will further strengthen agriculture’s competitiveness by aligning investments with scientific progress and emerging opportunities. In fact, it represents a gamechanger as it is a key element to boost agriculture productivity and can cojugate the needs of the farmers and the ambitions of young talents.
Moreover, the Vision focuses on sustainability and the need for balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility by promoting sustainable farming practices and ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into agricultural policies.
To support the implementation of these priorities, the Commission has established the European Board for Agriculture and Food (EBAF). This advisory body is tasked with providing strategic advice and fostering a culture of dialogue among various stakeholders.
The European Commission’s “Vision for Agriculture and Food” represents a pivotal step toward shaping a resilient and sustainable future for the agri-food sector in a critical time. The Vision demonstrates the Commission’s proactive approach to safeguarding food security and supporting the farming community. It will work together with other recent initiatives, such as the €500 million support package for EU farmers introduced in March 2022 or the launch of Mission Soil to support soil health and the transition to sustainable soil management through on-site testing and experimentation. The Vision is thus a new piece in a wider picture, paving the way towards the multi-annual framework programs to come in 2028.
More information on the DG-AGRI webpage.