Agrifood
In southern Spain, fruit pickers ditched as virus spreads
Lamine Diakite has been on the street for two weeks since the Spanish shantytown he was staying in burnt down, one of the hundreds of fruit pickers abandoned as coronavirus cases soar.
Look-back: Best of the news made in 2020 so far
As the EU institutions - and the EURACTIV newsroom - wind down for the summer break, take a look at some of the biggest, most popular and unusual stories published so far in 2020, as well as the catalogue of our best videos this year.
Criticism of Germany’s new laws in the meat and food industry
Two new laws are to put an end to exploitation and poor working conditions in the German meat industry. But critics are concerned that these laws don't go far enough. EURACTIV Germany reports.
CAP tracker: Mapping the latest movements on EU farming policy
Welcome to EURACTIV’s CAP tracker, your one-stop shop for all the latest developments on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Be sure to check back here regularly for your weekly update on all things CAP, including the latest movements on the...
German labour minister announces stricter standards in the meat industry
The German meat industry has been under fire for years over its low working standards and workers rights. The coronavirus clusters in slaughterhouses have now offered the government an opportunity to intervene. EURACTIV Germany reports.
UK gene editing amendment withdrawn, but government commits to consultation
An amendment tabled in the new UK agriculture bill, designed to allow access to new gene-editing technology, has been withdrawn but the government has pledged to conduct a public consultation on the issue, amid indications that it could eventually be in favour.
Bulgarian farmers fear Green Deal will lower their incomes
Bulgarian farmers forecast weaker yields, with lower quality, and hence lower incomes, as a result of the new green policies of the EU. At the heart of their concerns is the significant reduction in the use of pesticides and fertilizers by 2030, writes EURACTIV Bulgaria.
Farm to Fork Strategy: A partial response to our farmers’ needs
The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy has pleased environmentalists, but that is not enough - we have to look at the big picture and address its economic and social impact as well, writes Hermann Tertsch.
Ukraine’s snail farmers fear collapse over EU lockdowns
When the first snail farm in Ukraine opened five years ago, local villagers couldn't hide their curiosity.
France’s Languedoc winegrowers are already adapting to climate change
Over the past 30 years, the harvest of France's Languedoc wines has progressed by three weeks and the alcohol content of the wine has risen by four points. Faced with the already sensitive impact of climate change, the region's winegrowers are adapting their practices and grape varieties. EURACTIV France reports.
Pesticides banned in EU still in use in Bulgaria
In her latest investigation, EURACTIV Bulgaria’s Valia Ahchieva reveals the use of EU-banned pesticides, conflicts of interest, siphoning of European funds, lies and gross neglect of human health and bees’ life by the authorities.
Let’s talk about pork…
An EU-funded campaign has been launched in France, Spain and Portugal to ‘demystify’ the production of pork. Joanna Swabe argues that if we’re going to ‘talk about pork’, let’s talk about routine violations of animal welfare legislation and eating less of it.
New impetus for sustainability tests Europe’s ‘soft power’
In the race to become a global leader for sustainability, the EU is expected to give proof of its 'soft power' with third countries to cope with the risks of falling behind on innovation.
Agrifood brief: CAP, animal welfare, digitalisation among top priorities of German Presidency
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner laid out the German EU presidency’s agrifood priorities...
Brazil exports to EU produced on illegally cleared land: report
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).
We won’t get there without sustainable biofuels
It is common knowledge by now: transport is and stays a big greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in the EU and worldwide. It accounted for 27% of EU-28 total emissions in 2017, and the sector runs almost entirely on fossil fuel. David Chiaramonti and Giacomo Talluri explain how this can be curbed.
EIB official: €200 billion needed to build broadband infrastructure in EU rural areas
In order for citizens in Europe’s rural areas to have broadband access to at least 100 megabits per second, approximately €200 billion will be needed, according to Harald Gruber from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
No-till farming: traditional ideas with new technologies to tackle current challenges
With soil health high on the EU policy agenda, EURACTIV spoke with US-based farmer Trey Hill, whose innovative approach to farming explores the potential of no-till agriculture, a practice that can contribute to the EU’s sustainability goals although some dismiss it as "technologically backward".
Young farmers need a toolbox ‘as broad as possible’ to achieve Farm to Fork goals
Ensuring that food producers will be provided with the appropriate alternatives is the best way to make progress in meeting the specific objectives set up in the new Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), according to young European farmers interviewed by EURACTIV.
Greener aviation set for end-of-year lift
An EU initiative aimed at boosting the uptake of cleaner aviation fuels is set to launch at the end of 2020 and a new push by the European Commission to streamline tax policy might yet have a big impact on air travel’s carbon footprint.
MEP: Precision farming should be part of member states’ recovery plans
Precision farming practices, including digital farming, are the best way to deliver the EU's strategic goals of being green, smart and safe and should be part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans of all member states, according to MEP Petros Kokkalis.
Rural broadband – Challenges and opportunities
The economic competitiveness of regions, and notably rural regions, depends on good connectivity. This means not just roads and railways, but also internet highways. Connectivity to fast internet in rural areas is still almost half of what it is on...
Innovation in agriculture: Europe at crossroads
One of the main issues that the European Commission and EU member states will have to face in the coming years is how to handle innovation in Europe’s agricultural sector. The agricultural sector’s fight to mitigate climate change and improve...