European parliament, Brussels (BE), 31^st January 2024

This event was held at the European Parliament to discuss implementation of green initiatives, sustainable practices, and moving forward with the “Farm to Fork Strategy”.

Nearly four years after the European Commission published this flagship strategy, and close to the 2024 European elections, farmers and other interest parties explored ecological transition in the agri-food sector, including sustainable use of pesticides, nature restoration, packaging waste, and sustainable food systems. Controversy around many of these topics, as well as their complexity, has hindered advancement with the “Farm to Fork Strategy, but so have external factors such as COVID-19, inflation, and the war in Ukraine.

Discussions at the European Food Forum highlighted a number of potential corrective measures, benefiting both farmers and consumers, which focused on clear dialogue, more innovations in economic, social, environmental, and food systems for greater sustainability, and protection of biodiversity.

‘Taking Stock of the Farm to Fork strategy: Reflecting, Rethinking, Rebuilding’ was carried out in collaboration with Europe Jacques Delors AISBL, one of the Jacques Delors family of think tanks created in early 2020.

Speakers included:

• Farmers: Rūdolfs Pulkstenis, Vice President, European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA)
• NGOs / Civil Society: Marta Messa, Secretary General Slow Food
• Processors: Geert Maesmans, President, EU Specialty Food Ingredients
• Retailers: Els Bedert, Director Product Policy & Sustainability, EuroCommerce
• R&I: Adam Adamek, Director of Innovation, EIT Food

With special remarks from:

• Els Bruggeman, Head Advocacy and Enforcement, Euroconsumers
• Patrick Pagani, Lead Coodrdinator – Senior Policy Advisor, Copa Cogeca
• Silvia Lofrese, Senior manager public affairs FoodDrinkEurope