Agrifood
The future of EU agriculture innovation
The next European Parliament and Commission will have to deal with a number of important issues related to the future of the European agricultural sector.
Biofuel expert: In Europe, facts don’t win over theories
Europe’s demonstrated preference for ideology over science explains why Europe is both the most vocal climate proponent on the world stage and also the most wasteful and ineffective one, Eric Sievers, director of investments at Ethanol Europe, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Overfishing lurks in flagship EU subsidy scheme
A meeting of EU agriculture ministers today (18 June) will be entirely dedicated to fisheries. Ministers are expected to reach a tentative deal on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) post-2020, the main EU fund that supports fishing communities. VideoPromoted content
FoodDrinkEurope launches priorities for the EU institutions
FoodDrinkEurope is ready to step up to the plate!
Europe’s transport decarbonisation
The Green Energy Platform, led by the think tank Farm Europe, organised a workshop in Brussels on Wednesday (12 June) to present the results of the ‘2030 Transport Decarbonisation Options’ study, conducted by the consultancy firm Navigant.
Transport decarbonisation targets will be revised if needed, EU official says
Although the new renewable energy directive (REDII) set compromise minimum targets helping to decarbonise the transport sector, the EU executive reserves the right to take action on the matter again if necessary, a Commission official has said.
To avoid killing young male chickens, we need more feasible solutions – German agri-economist
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Dr Ludger Breloh, the managing director of the egg breeding company Seleggt Gmbh, spoke about Germany's recent decision to allow the mass killings of young male chickens and how his company's Seleggt process could be used as a bridging technology until more commercially viable methods are found.
Andriukaitis vs Salvini: Back-and-forth on ‘nationalist’ food policy
EU health boss Vytenis Andriukaitis criticised last week (7 June) the "political use" of food safety concerns and country of origin labelling, spurred by nationalist leaders like Italy's Matteo Salvini, who replied he was only defending Italian farmers and fishermen.
Today’s diets are eating away at our future food supplies, but we can change this
Thousands of overlooked yet beneficial crop species are threatened unless we learn to conserve, farm and consume them, writes Juan Lucas Restrepo.
A bitter taste
Europe’s chocolate habit is driving the world’s fastest rising deforestation rates. We need new EU laws to stop this, writes Julia Christian.
Poll: Europeans care more about food origins than safety
Coinciding with the first International food safety day, a Eurobarometer poll about food safety published on Friday (7 June) found that food awareness among Europeans is high, as 50% of them consider safety to be an important factor in choosing food.
23 million people fall ill every year because of contaminated foods
Despite tight control networks, foods contaminated with pathogens continue to be regularly sold in the EU and their effects on health can be deadly. Consumer protectors are therefore requesting greater transparency and a rethink of what is considered 'healthy'. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU should celebrate but not remain complacent about food safety
As Europe celebrates World Food Safety Day for the first time, Bernhard Url welcomes the fact that every year, on June 7, the world’s attention will be drawn to the crucial role that food safety plays in our daily lives and to its importance in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. InfographicPromoted content
Consumer co-operatives: A retail force for a prosper & sustainable Europe
For 175 years, co-operatives have successfully used commercial efforts to generate social value. Yet, their model is not sufficiently promoted. The Single Market & local communities will benefit if this changes.
FAO official: ‘Veganism is certainly not for everyone’
Veganism is certainly not for everyone, particularly when it comes to mother and children, as it is deficient in some important minerals and vitamins, Henning Steinfeld, an official from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), told EURACTIV in an interview.OpinionPromoted content
World class manufacturing demands standards, consistency and transparency
It is a pivotal time for nutrition companies across the world as more and more people take aim at making healthy living a priority. How can nutritional products manufacturers achieve product quality, consistency and transparency?
Modern farming offers a climate-smart future for Europe’s livestock
Among the highest food safety standards in the world. A stringent risk assessment. A ready-availability of affordable fish, meat, milk and eggs. The lowest burden of foodborne illness in the world. These accolades all apply to the EU and to the food production systems...
The future EU livestock sector
In this series of articles, EURACTIV will focus on the future of the EU livestock sector and food system in light of the rising global population and increasing demands to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Next EU Parliament fisheries committee will start over from scratch
Only 10 of the 27 outgoing members of the Fisheries Committee (PECH) in the European Parliament were reconfirmed after the EU elections, 4 of them also having their seat time-chartered as brexiteer MEPs.
With new regulation complete, what’s next for EU biofuels?
After years of political wrangling over how to account for indirect land use change from biofuels in EU legislation, businesses now have the regulatory stability they’ve long been craving.
Tackling the next agricultural revolution together
It has been over 12,000 years since the Neolithic Revolution, when our nomadic ancestors began planting roots, quite literally -- trading in their hunter-gatherer lifestyles to cultivate crops. Today we’re facing another revolution in agriculture – one we must tackle together, writes Neal Gutterson.
Companies seek clarity on breeding innovation to stay in EU
A number of breeding companies have promised to relocate their advanced mutagenesis breeding programmes outside Europe and others will follow if nothing is done to change EU rules, Garlich von Essen, the secretary-general of the European Seed Association (ESA), told...
14 EU countries call for ‘unified approach’ to gene editing in plants
The Netherlands and Estonia are leading a coalition of 14 EU member states calling on the next European Commission to update EU GMO laws with regard to so-called new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs).