EU Green Deal – the Farm to Fork strategy

Crisis such the COVID-19 pandemic has brought

to the forefront the need to redesign food
systems for them to be resilient and sustainable.
Currently, the prevailing agri-food system
consumes large amounts of natural resources,
results in biodiversity loss and does not allow fair
economic returns and livelihoods, especially for
primary producers.

For this purpose, the European Green Deal

includes as one of its building blocks the Farm to
Fork Strategy, a roadmap which aims for a fair,
healthy and environmentally-friendly food system that should:

• have a neutral or positive environmental impact

• help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts
• reverse the loss of biodiversity
• ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that
everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food
• preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns,
fostering competitiveness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade

Transitioning to a sustainable strategy not only will bring new opportunities for all
actors involved in the food value chain, but also will boost new technologies and
scientific discoveries.

In this sense, Research and Innovation are essential elements in accelerating the
change to an upgraded sustainable, healthy and inclusive food system. Under
Horizon Europe, the Commission is opening calls for proposals on food,
bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and the
environment as well as the use of digital technologies and nature-based solutions
for agri-food.

To provide a forum for discussion on the challenges and opportunities that the
strategy poses, the European Commission is holding the second Farm to Fork
Conference next 14-15 October 2021. The meeting will focus on the progress
made on the initiatives foreseen in the strategy’s action plan, support the EU
efforts to achieve a global transition to sustainable food systems and put
emphasis on transition enablers.