The European Commission has launched its long-awaited Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system alongside a new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Both are seen as crucial for delivering The European Green Deal and helping to promote a global transition to sustainable food systems through partnerships and “green alliances”.
According to the official communication, “The new Farm to Fork Strategy will safeguard food security and ensure access to healthy diets sourced from a healthy planet. It will reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system and strengthen its resilience, in line with the following 2030 targets:
- Reduce the use and risk of pesticides by 50%
- Reduce the use of fertilizers by at least 20%
- Reduce nutrient losses by at least 50%, while ensuring no deterioration on soil fertility
- Reduce sales of antimicrobials used for farmed animals and aquaculture by 50%
- Achieve 25% of agricultural land under organic farming
Farm to Fork also proposes ambitious measures to help EU citizens make healthy choices, including improved labelling on foods.
The Biodiversity Strategy, meanwhile, is designed to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people, climate and the planet. This will include creating protected areas for at least 30% of land and 30% of sea in Europe and increasing organic farming.
Speaking at the launch, Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said: “The coronavirus crisis has shown how vulnerable we all are, and how important it is to restore the balance between human activity and nature. Climate change and biodiversity loss are a clear and present danger to humanity. 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.”
Dr. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, added, “We must make the EU’s food system a driving force for sustainability. The Farm to Fork Strategy will make a positive difference across the board in how we produce, buy and consume our food that will benefit the health of our citizens, societies and the environment. It offers the opportunity to reconcile our food systems with our planet’s health, to ensure food security and meet the aspirations of Europeans for healthy, equitable and eco-friendly food. This vision is not only European – it is global.”