Food chain sustainability – Euractiv

Agriculture ‘core area’ for EU’s 2040 climate targets – Commission report

Angelo Di Mambro — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:18:47 +0000

By 2040, the EU's agricultural sector should be able to cut non-CO2 emissions by at least 30% compared to 2015 levels, with livestock and fertiliser use key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a draft communication on the 2040 EU climate target states.

EU Parliament calls for looser environmental rules in Common Fisheries Policy reform

Hugo Struna — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:11:46 +0000

The European Parliament voted on Thursday (18 January) in favour of two own-initiative reports on EU fisheries pushed by the conservative EPP, which drop some environmental bans and focus on fleet competitiveness, effectively calling for a reform of the bloc's Common Fisheries Policy.

Von der Leyen will start strategic dialogue with food sector on 25 January

Angelo Di Mambro — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:15:49 +0000

Thirty European food chain organisations covering the entire chain have received an official invitation for a strategic dialogue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 25 January, industry sources told Euractiv.

Secrecy in international fisheries management: bad news for our oceans? [Promoted content]

Ryan Orgera — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:00:14 +0000

The problem with international fisheries governance is not simply a result of the obscurity of the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs, for short) that oversee it, or even of the RFMOs' near-singular focus on industrial fishing, but that these organizations can’t even manage the fisheries properly.

‘Carbon neutral’ food claims challenged under new Commission rules

Natasha Foote — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:18:45 +0000

Food companies will be forced to justify claims such as carbon neutral under newly proposed plans from the European Commission as criticisms mount over the ‘rampant’ greenwashing found on supermarket shelves - but farmers warn plans must be fine-tuned for the specificities of the food sector.

Stakeholders clash over environmental impact, viability of EU packaging law

Paula Andrés — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:12:36 +0000

With the EU's new packaging law open to lawmakers' opinions, farmers and industry are questioning the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposal while green groups warn against a 'zero-sum approach' to the matter.

EU’s packaging law – What’s next?

Rachele Semeghini — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 18:12:27 +0000

After the much-awaited proposal on the EU packaging and packaging waste directive (PPWD), the ball is in the court of EU lawmakers’ who are now called to tie up loose ends and tweak the draft law.

NGOs urge EU to oppose plans for world’s first octopus farm

Hugo Struna — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:54:37 +0000

The European Union should oppose what could become the world's first octopus farm, two organisations said after plans for what they have termed a 'cruel' project to be located in the Canary Islands were announced.

Belgian region ends force-feeding as last foie gras farm closes

Hugo Struna — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:01:06 +0000

The Flemish region of Belgium, Flanders, will no longer force-feed animals to produce foie gras as the region after its last foie gras production plant closed at the start of 2023.

China lifts ban on Irish beef imports, reopening multimillion-euro market

Natasha Foote — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:19:18 +0000

China has lifted its 2020 ban on the import of Irish beef, putting the longstanding issue to rest and reopening a multimillion-euro market for Irish farmers.

German minister wants to decriminalise dumpster diving

Julia Dahm — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 13:31:29 +0000

To tackle the problem of food waste, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is looking to decriminalise the practice of rescuing food from rubbish containers, including outside supermarkets, called dumpster diving.

‘Enjoy, it’s from Europe’: Brussels announces fresh agri-food promotion plan

Hugo Struna — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:02:57 +0000

The European Commission presented its annual working plan to help agri-food producers promote their products in the EU and abroad, with a focus on sustainability, quality, animal welfare, and healthy eating habits.

EU’s global push on food sustainability standards raises hackles in third countries

Natasha Foote — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:15:53 +0000

The EU’s ambition to hold third countries' food imports to its own sustainability standards has been met with consternation as stakeholders sounded the alarm in key trading partners, including Brazil and the US.

The innovation factor in a global sustainable food supply chain

Rachele Semeghini — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:18:57 +0000

International partnerships around the use of new farming technologies, on par with common trade standards, can play a role in making global food production more sustainable. The recent push from the EU to highly consider their sustainability standards in the...

MEP: ‘Ideologically driven’ EU packaging law endangers food value chain

Natasha Foote — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:56:17 +0000

An ideologically driven EU packaging law based on rigid targets could end up endangering the food packaging and the food system value chain, Finnish MEP Elsi Katainen told EURACTIV in an interview.

Unwrapping the EU’s packaging law proposal

LouiseQ — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:56:04 +0000

An overhaul of the EU packaging and packaging waste directive (PPWD), the main EU-level instrument dealing with placing on the market packaging and requirements for its end-of-life, is due 30 November.

EU countries see success in slashing veterinary antibiotics sales

Natasha Foote — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:55:51 +0000

Sales of antibiotics used for animal use have almost halved between 2011-2021, according to a new report issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), putting the EU on track to attain its ambitions, but with a warning that the sector should not become complacent.

Agribusiness to dominate ‘not inclusive’ COP27 talks, say stakeholders

Paula Andrés — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:22:00 +0000

Farming initiatives at COP27 will be dominated by agri-business players and will lack farmers’ voices, sustainable campaigners and small-holders organisations have warned ahead of the global summit’s day devoted to agriculture.

Germany tightens animal transport rules, urges EU-wide follow-up

Julia Dahm — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:05:19 +0000

Germany will further restrict the transport of live animals to countries outside the EU, but without EU-wide regulation, the Agriculture Ministry's push could remain ineffective.

Cut animal transport times to reduce rise of superbugs, says EU agency

Natasha Foote — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:00:40 +0000

Animal transportation times should be cut to reduce the risk of spreading antimicrobial resistance, according to a new scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

German animal welfare label risks distorting EU market, critics say

Julia Dahm — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:18:51 +0000

The German cabinet approved Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir's bill for a mandatory animal welfare label on Wednesday (12 October), but the opposition and farming associations warn of inconsistencies within the EU single market.

Patchwork energy prioritisation risks food chain disruption, industry warns

Julia Dahm, Natasha Foote — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:09:27 +0000

EU countries' lack of cohesion in prioritising the agri-food sector for gas supply is sparking concerns of market disruptions among industry stakeholders while experts stress member states must coordinate to ensure consistency.

EU fruit, vegetable producers scramble to save harvest as energy prices soar

Natasha Foote — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 12:58:53 +0000

Soaring energy bills have sent the EU’s horticulture sector scrambling to save their produce just as harvest time hits, leaving some debating whether to simply leave their crops to rot - and even whether to continue growing in the future.

Europe searches for alternatives in fertiliser supply battle

Benjamin Fox, Eleonora Vasques — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 05:04:11 +0000

The battle for fertiliser, a vital commodity for food production, has emerged as one of the by-products of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, leaving states in Europe and elsewhere scrambling for alternative suppliers. Though alternatives exist there is no obvious quick fix.

Ensuring Global Food Security: What China Says and Does [Promoted content]

Teresa Dominguez-Piedade — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:00:03 +0000

Hit by intense heat, it is reported that some European countries will see their soft-wheat output drop by 7%, lower than their five-year average, another bad news for the already strained global food supply.

Germany’s nutrition strategy in-the-making needs more fleshing out

Julia Dahm — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:54:06 +0000

A virtual meeting between German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir and the country's associations on Wednesday (29 June) kick-started the development of a sustainable and healthy nutrition strategy, though expectations differ widely on the details.

FAO official: EU’s rethinking of food system fundamentals is legit amid Ukraine, COVID, climate crises

Gerardo Fortuna — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 12:07:53 +0000

It is understandable that the EU is reorganising the fundamentals of its agricultural model in terms of strategic autonomy after the Ukraine war and the effects of both COVID-19 and climate crises, an official of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation told EURACTIV in an interview.

Industrial emissions proposal criticised by farming sector

Gerardo Fortuna — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:20:36 +0000

Lawmakers and stakeholders close to the agriculture community accused the EU executive of being disconnected from reality and creating additional bureaucracy after presenting new rules to curb pollution in the industrial sector.

‘Invisible’ soy linked to deforestation hides in animal products, report shows

Jamie Holcomb — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:56:57 +0000

Despite relatively low immediate consumption, European citizens assume a high quantity of soy indirectly mostly because of its use as animal feed, a report commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has found.

Timmermans cautions against relaxing Green deal goals for sake of food security

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:59:57 +0000

Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans stood up for the Green Deal objectives in the EU's farming policy despite the calls of prioritising food security aspects in the wake of supply disruptions caused by the Ukraine war.

From backing bans to foie gras fans: The story behind the European Parliament’s U-turn

Natasha Foote — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:00:52 +0000

The European Parliament has declared foie gras production respectful of animal welfare criteria in a new report, despite previously demanding a ban on force-feeding, which was called “cruel and unnecessary”. EURACTIV explores what is behind this change of heart.

French agri minister manoeuvres review of pesticide residues onto EU agenda

Natasha Foote — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:21:27 +0000

The French agriculture minister’s ambitions to link the upcoming pesticides directive review with completely separate legislation on maximum residue limits has confused stakeholders, some of who see it as a covert way to overhaul the current framework on pesticide tolerances.

Current state of Spanish pork chain divides agriculture stakeholders

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:06:46 +0000

Labour rights violations and environmental damage remain acute problems in European food production, as claimed by a recent report on the Spanish pork chain, which farmers have criticised as presenting a distorted picture.

Boosting climate smart agriculture through access to ripping technology

Natasha Foote — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 12:16:53 +0000

With soil health high on the policy agenda, EURACTIV took a look at how advances in tractor technology can help boost climate-smart agriculture and promote no-till agriculture through the lens of a project in East Africa.

Why 2022 must be the year governments serve up a food systems revolution

Agnes Kalibata — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 11:40:29 +0000

Of all the reasons why 2021 may go down in history, the first UN Food Systems Summit may yet have the longest-lasting impact worldwide, writes Agnes Kalibata.

Green farming ambition is a hot potato ahead of EU-AU summit

Benjamin Fox, Gerardo Fortuna — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 17:29:29 +0000

The issue of vaccine hoarding and African vaccine production is likely to dominate the long-delayed EU-African Union (AU) summit but both sides want to beef up cooperation on agriculture policy as well.

EU’s 2022 promotional policy brands meat cancer risk, encourages shift to plant-based diets

Natasha Foote — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 09:57:01 +0000

The EU’s 2022 promotional policy will encourage a shift to more plant-based diets after branding red and processed meat a cancer risk, a move lambasted by the livestock farming sector but welcomed by civil society who stressed the need for more innovation in the plant-based sector.

It’s not me, it’s you: Unconcious investors bias is holding back female agri entrepreneurs

Natasha Foote — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:08:48 +0000

A number of female agri entrepreneurs are not able to tap into their potential and scale up their businesses due to an unconscious bias among investors, according to Lukxmi Balathasan, business creation manager for EIT Food, who said that this results in a worse outcome for all.

Commission stands by €2 million EU grant for synthetic meat

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:12:05 +0000

The European Commission, challenged by Italian EU lawmakers, has defended the move to grant €2 million from the EU's Recovery Fund to a research and development project designed to move forward in cellular agriculture and curb costs of lab-grown meat.

Farm to Fork studies do not give ‘whole picture’, agri stakeholders warn

Magdalena Pistorius — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:02:31 +0000

Agricultural productivity could decline if several studies on Farm to Fork policy impact are to be believed. But critics say the studies do not paint the whole picture and the EU's flagship food policy is on the right track.

Time to tip our food systems towards a sustainable and equitable future

Simon Sharpe, Tim Lenton — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 12:04:52 +0000

By finding well targeted 'tipping points', a sustainable, resilient, and more equitable world food system can still be created, argue Simon Sharpe and Tim Lenton.

Greek fires decimate honey sector, opening floodgates for cheap, fraudulent imports

Natasha Foote — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:21:33 +0000

The wildfires that swept across Greece this summer have decimated the country's beekeeping sector, leaving it vulnerable to a barrage of cheap and potentially fraudulent honey imports, EU farmers’ association COPA-COGECA has warned.

UK government banks on domestic workforce as struggling food sector calls for new visas

Natasha Foote — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:03:43 +0000

The UK food sector has called for a new COVID-19 recovery visa to address workforce shortages, but the government has been non-committal, stressing instead it aims not to rely on labour from abroad.

Experts: Deadly floods made worse by misguided farming practices

Julia Dahm — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:12:05 +0000

German environmental organisations are calling for flood protection measures to be improved and for a change to the way agricultural soils are used weeks after catastrophic flash floods deluged the country and left more than 200 dead across Western Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Commission moves against EU countries over unfair trading practices

Natasha Foote — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:45:35 +0000

The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against 12 member states after they failed to transpose EU rules banning unfair trading practices in the agri-food sector within the allotted time frame.

Stakeholders split over EU food promotional funding for meat, exports

Julia Dahm — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 13:32:37 +0000

Stakeholders remain divided on promotional support for target markets and animal products, with NGOs calling for meat to be cut off cold turkey, while farmers argue no products should be off the table.

Slovenian agri minister: Climate change just as unpredictable as COVID pandemic

Natasha Foote — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 05:30:25 +0000

Although agri-food sector has recovered from the worst of the pandemic, it must keep one eye on the present and one on future crisis management, Slovenia's Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Black Sea facing ecological disaster due to overfishing

Dragomir Nikolov — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:34:19 +0000

Fish stocks in the Black Sea are dwindling and commercial fishing is causing more and more environmental damage, causing concern that has grabbed the attention of NGOs and EU lawmakers. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.

One year on, are MEPs ready to boost biodiversity and farm to fork strategies?

Jabier Ruiz, Sabien Leemans — Thu, 20 May 2021 13:15:27 +0000

In the next few weeks, EU lawmakers have a chance to show their strong support for nature and sustainable agriculture, argue Sabien Leemans and Jabier Ruiz. But will they?

Expert: ‘Climate natives’ should be at the centre of EU’s Farm to Fork strategy

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 20 May 2021 07:54:08 +0000

Europe's vision of the future of food systems needs to be improved with a focus on young generations, who will be putting into practice the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), according to Riccardo Valentini, a prominent agricultural expert, who warned that "everything in this transition that is done without young people is a waste of money".

French Senate to finally start discussing animal welfare-friendly farming

Magdalena Pistorius — Wed, 12 May 2021 12:36:13 +0000

The economic affairs committee in the French Senate is due to consider a report on the proposed law for ethical, socially just and animal welfare-friendly farming on Wednesday (12 May) following recent criticism over its alleged inaction on animal welfare. EURACTIV France reports.

EU gives green light to bloc’s first edible insect

Gerardo Fortuna — Wed, 05 May 2021 05:40:21 +0000

Dried yellow mealworms are the first insect food to receive the go-ahead for marketing authorisation in the EU after a favourable opinion from member states.

Support for banning intensive farming grows despite cost of animal welfare

Magdalena Pistorius — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:51:14 +0000

As a survey conducted by the L214 association published this week points to the suffering of animals in intensive farming, the 'End the Cage Age' initiative put forward by EU citizens is demanding to end the practice of caging animals. EURACTIV France reports.

EU farmers boss: Commission leaving agri sector to wait like ‘animals for slaughter’

Natasha Foote — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 06:37:29 +0000

By choosing to impose green objectives without undertaking a comprehensive impact assessment, the European Commission is leaving the EU farming sector vulnerable and waiting like “animals to be slaughtered”, according to the head of the EU farmers association.

African farmers say they must be trained for Farm to Fork

Gerardo Fortuna — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:00:58 +0000

African farmers fear being left alone in making sense of and applying environmental standards required by the European Union’s new food policy, said the voice of Kenya’s horticulture producers, who warned that without help, the new rules could jeopardise trade with Europe.

Meat debate heats up in Italy after remarks by new ‘super minister’

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:37:47 +0000

Italy's livestock farmers are fuming after the newly appointed ‘super minister’ for the ecological transition said the amount of animal protein consumed should be decreased and replaced with plant-based alternatives.

Beyond Farm to Fork: the ‘agricultural’ side of EU’s biodiversity strategy

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:39:55 +0000

The European Union's bid to tackle biodiversity loss goes hand in hand with the new ambition of making the food system more sustainable, involving several farming aspects.

‘Price war’ between French farmers and big supermarkets continues

Magdalena Pistorius — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:51:41 +0000

Although annual negotiations between French supermarkets and their suppliers officially ended on Monday (1 March), the "price war" that has once again fuelled tensions this year is far from over. EURACTIV France reports.

Almost half of French people have cut meat consumption in last three years

Lucie Duboua-Lorsch — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:25:23 +0000

French people tend to eat less meat than before, according to the results of the Harris Interactive survey published on Thursday ( 25 February). This change in eating habits can only be welcomed, both from an environmental and health perspective. EURACTIV France reports.

Level of food security in the EU is not uniform, report shows

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:53:29 +0000

European countries performed differently in a study that measures the state of global food security, showing an internal discrepancy within the bloc that put Europe behind North America in the ranking of regions.

Fight over inclusion of labour rights in CAP heats up

Natasha Foote — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 11:06:06 +0000

The ongoing debate over the inclusion of provisions on workers' rights in the reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has kicked up a notch with the publication of a letter from more than 300 European organisations advocating for social conditionality.

France’s management of fish stock positive except in Mediterranean

Lucie Duboua-Lorsch — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 14:24:55 +0000

Though the French institute for sea exploitation known as Ifremer appeared optimistic when presenting its 2020 report on the state of fish populations caught in France, they, however, called for continued efforts, particularly in the Mediterranean where the situation is more worrying. EURACTIV France reports.

Commission dampens bid to end EU meat promotion

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:09:37 +0000

The European Commission has softened its stance on phasing out the promotion of red and processed meat in Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the latest change has received a mixed reception from stakeholders.

Restaurants face ‘wave of bankruptcies’ after lockdowns

Dave Keating — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:15:05 +0000

The food services sector has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, but governments are struggling to find ways to reopen safely.

Indoor v Outdoor – What does future hold for hospitality sector?

Gerardo Fortuna — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:11:14 +0000

The COVID crisis has hit economies hard but it is also providing the foodservice industry and the hospitality sector a chance to test new ways to engage customers, taking into account how their eating habits are changing.

Schmit: Recovery fund key to get hospitality sector back on its feet

Gerardo Fortuna, Sarantis Michalopoulos — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 07:27:08 +0000

Placing the hospitality and tourism sectors at the heart of national recovery and resilience plans will be essential, the EU commissioner for jobs and social rights, Nicolas Schmit, told EURACTIV.

COVID crisis ‘trigger’ for innovation in hospitality sector, say researchers

Natasha Foote — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:01:36 +0000

The COVID-19 crisis has deeply impacted the hospitality sector, but it has also been a trigger of business model innovation and this must be encouraged to help businesses adapt to the "new normal", according to new research.

Hospitality sector calls for support to unlock entrepreneurial spirit post-COVID

Natasha Foote — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:54:23 +0000

Despite the challenges the pandemic has presented to the EU hospitality sector, hopes remain high that it can bounce back and adapt to a new post-pandemic reality, but this requires support “commensurate to the hit it has taken”, according to the EU hospitality association.

Most Europeans plan to curb flying and eat less meat for climate, EU poll says

Kira Taylor — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:32:05 +0000

A majority of European citizens intend to fly less and already eat less meat to help fight climate change, according to a survey published by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on Monday (11 January).

Feed additives ‘key tool’ in achieving farming sustainability goals, say stakeholders

Natasha Foote — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:49:36 +0000

Feed additives hold enormous potential for reducing the environmental impact of the farming sector, but are not getting the attention they deserve according to farming sector and feed industry stakeholders, who are calling for more focus on the role of feed additives in contributing to sustainability goals.

Give agricultural workers vaccination priority, stakeholders urge

Natasha Foote — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 11:42:05 +0000

As the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine edges closer in the EU, stakeholders are urging member states to treat the food and drink workforce as a top priority in vaccination plans.

Women must be ‘at the heart of sustainability conversation’ in farming, says MEP

Natasha Foote — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:23:50 +0000

Women farmers must be at the forefront of the sustainable farming discussion, but they say there are still barriers in the way and a lack of support for their entry into the profession.

Hospitality is a Partner in the Pandemic – Not an Adversary [Stakeholder Opinion]

Eric Poirier — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:00:32 +0000

Despite significant findings about the dynamics of the pandemic, the policy strategy for combating infections remains the same with regards to the hospitality sector: close and compensate. It is time to think about innovative approaches to keep hundreds of thousands...

Agrifood Brief, Special Edition: A closer look at EU agrifood trade

Gerardo Fortuna, Natasha Foote — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:37:45 +0000

Welcome to this EURACTIV special edition on agrifood trade, where we take a closer look at each member state's position on trade and their country's own specific issues.

‘From grass to glass’: how dairy can go green

Kira Taylor — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:17:28 +0000

Polluting emissions have long been a concern in the dairy industry, with methane released from cow belches and flatulence fueling global warming, causing floods and droughts, which in turn impacts on production.

Green farming ambitions must not lose sight of bigger picture, experts warn

Natasha Foote — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:59:04 +0000

While policies aiming to green the EU’s farming system should be welcomed as a step in the right direction, they must also show coherence and understanding of the global picture, experts have warned.

New EU food agency tool reopens date marking rift

Gerardo Fortuna, Natasha Foote — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:54:18 +0000

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has stepped into the long-standing issue of date marking on food by presenting a new tool to help business operators decide when to apply the ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date to their products.

Agri SMEs need extra helping hand to benefit from post-COVID opportunities

Natasha Foote — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 09:23:56 +0000

Small and medium-sized enterprises will need an extra helping hand to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic to adapt to the new reality, stakeholders have warned.

From ‘spent’ to ‘saved’ grains: reusing by-products in the brewing industry

Natasha Foote — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 10:31:03 +0000

The EU brewing sector is exploring innovative solutions to upcycle wasted by-products from beer production into products suitable for human and animal consumption as part of their commitment to contribute towards the EU’s green goals.

Tackling the hidden cost of Europe’s chocolate habit

Kira Taylor — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 06:50:13 +0000

Chocolate is a cheap treat in Europe, but beneath the wrapper, it is mired in the bitter issues of deforestation, biodiversity loss and child labour.

Commission official: Farm to Fork to be steadily evaluated in its implementation

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 09:49:36 +0000

No impact assessment of the pivotal EU's food policy as such is in the pipeline but each measure in the strategy will be separately evaluated, a Commission official ensured.

Campaigners call on EU to halt export of banned pesticides

Natasha Foote — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 08:02:17 +0000

Civil society organisations are calling on the EU to halt the production and export of banned pesticides to third countries, some of which they say can be detected in food sold back to the EU market.

Brazil exports to EU produced on illegally cleared land: report

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 05:20:06 +0000

One fifth of beef and soybean exports from Brazil to the European Union is produced on land that was illegally deforested, according to a report published in Science magazine on Thursday (16 July).

Kyriakides: Investments will match EU’s ambition on sustainable food systems

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:24:21 +0000

The EU's determination to become a global leader in sustainability will be matched by investments in solutions to deliver on the commitments set out in the EU's new food policy, Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.

EU should do more on agrodiversity, Commissioner warns

Gerardo Fortuna — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:18:51 +0000

Diversifying food production is key to strengthening the resilience of European agriculture and creating realistic business models for farmers in the coming years, according to EU's agri-boss Janusz Wojciechowski.

EU-Mercosur deal will have devastating impact on climate, NGOs warn

Stéphanie Senet — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:37:19 +0000

After 20 years of negotiations, the text of the EU-Mercosur deal was concluded between the EU and the Latin American countries of Mercosur on 28 June in Brussels. While the agreement still has to be approved by the European Parliament and Council, farmers and environmental NGOs are still disappointed. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.

Farm to Fork Strategy: What role of nutrients?

Evi Kiorri — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 14:54:22 +0000

Looking at the future of agriculture in general, and the fertiliser industry in particular, the challenges of sustainable food production are apparent. Growing food demand will force farmers to invest in innovative tools to increase production, ensuring maximum efficiency from...

‘Bounce back’ plan for UK agrifood sector to bolster trade outside EU

Natasha Foote — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:10:39 +0000

The United Kingdom announced a ‘bounce back’ plan of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry on Tuesday (23 June), designed to allow businesses in the industry struggling in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak to grow their trade activity overseas.

Sinkevicius: COVID-19 cannot be an excuse to curb EU’s green ambition

Gerardo Fortuna — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:11:03 +0000

Member states cannot use the COVID-crisis as an excuse to weaken the EU's environmentral and health protection efforts, European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV Italy in an exclusive interview.

New sustainable food policy bears risk of unsustainable imports, ministers warn

Gerardo Fortuna — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 08:59:19 +0000

The European Commission's latest efforts to make the European food system more sustainable may risk inadvertently encouraging unsustainable farming practices elsewhere, EU agriculture ministers stressed on Monday (8 June).

Brexit no deal could ‘severely disrupt’ agrifood sector

Natasha Foote — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 14:45:19 +0000

The failure to conclude a trade agreement between the EU and the UK would have serious consequences for the agrifood sector for both parties, according to a joint statement released by major EU agrifood stakeholders on Thursday (4 June).

EU consumers open to exploring more sustainable diets, but lack information to do so

Natasha Foote — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 13:18:05 +0000

EU consumers are influenced by environmental concerns and willing to change their eating habits accordingly but lack of information, high prices and limited availability of sustainable foods still stand in the way, according to a new survey from the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC.

Agriculture has fundamental role to play in fighting climate change, says French socialist MEP

Stéphanie Senet — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 14:09:19 +0000

In an interview with EURACTIV's partner Le Journal de l'environnement, French socialist MEP Éric Andrieu (S&D) said that climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic make it necessary to put agriculture back at the heart of the debate and to change the agricultural model with targeted tools and resources.

COVID-19 could be ‘straw that breaks meat industry’s back’ says new report

Natasha Foote — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:46:55 +0000

Nearly three-quarters of the world’s largest meat, fish and dairy companies have been graded as a ‘high' pandemic risk and criticised for their inability to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases in a new report released on Wednesday (3 June).

EU food stocks: Should gear up for a rise of food protectionism?

Aline Robert — Fri, 29 May 2020 13:57:13 +0000

The EU is preparing to change its agricultural storage policy at a time when the COVID-19 health crisis has highlighted the weaknesses of its reserves. EURACTIV France reports.

Farm to Fork strategy softens stance on meat but backs alternative proteins

Natasha Foote — Fri, 22 May 2020 12:31:22 +0000

The EU's pivotal Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, presented on Wednesday (20 May), softened its stance on meat compared to the previous draft versions but offered staunch support for alternative proteins, which campaigners said was the first step in the right direction.

Food security again under EU spotlight in the wake of COVID-19 crisis

Gerardo Fortuna — Wed, 20 May 2020 14:56:34 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark on the EU's new food policy, as the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), presented on Wednesday (20 May), demonstrated a renewed interest in food security to ensure the supply during crises of any nature.

Coronavirus outbreak exposing vulnerabilities in the EU meat sector

Natasha Foote — Tue, 19 May 2020 09:56:00 +0000

After multiple outbreaks of coronavirus brought meat-processing plants to a standstill across the US, a similar trend has started to be seen across the EU, with potentially damaging consequences for the sector.

Insect-based feedstuffs hold ‘enormous potential’ for EU sustainability goals

Natasha Foote — Wed, 13 May 2020 05:44:27 +0000

With the presentation of the long-awaited Farm to Fork strategy due in the coming days, EURACTIV took a look at the potential that insects hold for contributing to the goals of the strategy and creating a more self-reliant, sustainable food system in the EU.

New EU food policy to be presented in two weeks

Gerardo Fortuna — Wed, 06 May 2020 14:53:21 +0000

After being delayed twice, the European Commission is ready to unveil on 20 May its much-awaited food policy, the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), according to its weekly 'indicative' agenda.