Agrifood
Czech parliament backs food law obliging stores to prioritise local products
The Czech Republic is on its way to introduce a protectionist food law despite warnings that this could be in violation of the EU's free movement of goods.
EU Court leaves Cyprus on the grill as halloumi trademark rift heats up
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed the claim of a Cypriot producers' organisation who challenged the trademark validation of Bulgarian halloumi-sounding products arguing that they could deceive consumers.
Green Deal makes its mark on EU crop protection sector
Increasing calls on the agri-food system to transition to a more sustainable model have seen the leading EU crop protection association rebrand and expand its mandate to encompass a more holistic approach to plant protection.
EU lawmakers raise concerns about UK ‘regression’ on pesticides
Lawmakers in the European Parliament raised concerns about possible UK regression on pesticides and gene editing at a meeting on the new EU-UK trade agreement on Thursday (14 January).
Malaysia takes WTO legal action against EU over palm biofuel curbs
Malaysia is taking legal action at the global trade watchdog against the European Union and member states France and Lithuania for restricting palm oil-based biofuels, the government said.
Commission lists agroecology, animal welfare as core environmental practices
The European Commission has unveiled the first list of environmentally friendly practices that could receive EU funding in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU's farming subsidy programme.
UK fishing industry faces £1m daily losses after Brexit
The Scottish fishing industry is counting the "crippling" costs of new bureaucratic requirements to export their catch to the EU, prompting industry leaders to warn that without immediate government support there could be "permanent casualties".OpinionStakeholder Opinion
European policy on biofuels is ill-founded and flawed, it should be made good
A decade ago the European Commission decided to exclude conventional biofuels from contributing to future policy on renewable energy, climate and agriculture, writes Benjamin Lammert. Benjamin Lammert is a farmer and president of the Green Energy Platform. The matter is as...
Scottish fishermen threaten to dump rotten shellfish outside British parliament
Scottish fishermen have threatened to dump rotten shellfish outside the British parliament after their deliveries to the European Union were blocked by post-Brexit red tape.OpinionPromoted content
Breeding ground for pandemics – why mink farming is a danger to public health
A danger to public health – Europe’s fur farms have long been exposed as cruel, but with the recent pandemic a new factor came into play: They are the perfect breeding ground for the virus and a danger to human health.
Grub’s up: Insects could soon be on the menu after EFSA green light
Mealworms are safe for human consumption according to a new opinion by the EU Food Safety Agency (EFSA), paving the way for the first EU-wide approval.
Bundestag to make agroforestry funding a reality
The German federal parliament (Bundestag) is to decide whether agroforestry will be recognised as a form of land use in the future, which would make the practice eligible for funding in the national strategic plan under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). EURACTIV Germany reports.Editor's picks
How American agriculture can work with the EU on food sustainability
We must build more resilient, sustainable global food systems that can feed an increasingly hungry world, or there will be dire consequences, warn Kip Tom and Ronald J. Gidwitz.
Green Deal and agriculture: between words and deeds
Lying at the heart of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity strategies play a key role in shaping the debate around the future of the European agri-food sector. In its flagship food policy, the EU...
German environment ministry proposes a social contract for green agriculture
German environment minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) is hosting a virtual agricultural congress on Wednesday (13 January) to discuss sustainable agriculture and the agreement between food production, environment and climate. At the centre, however, is a social contract. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Most Europeans plan to curb flying and eat less meat for climate, EU poll says
A majority of European citizens intend to fly less and already eat less meat to help fight climate change, according to a survey published by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on Monday (11 January).
Portuguese presidency to handle agriculture ‘with eyes on the future’
The Portuguese presidency of the EU Council is committed to doing everything to conclude negotiations on the reform of the EU's massive farming subsidies programme without overlooking the transition toward a more sustainable food system, the Portuguese farm minister told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Brexit ‘perfect storm’ hits Scottish seafood exporters
A "perfect storm" of post-Brexit red tape and coronavirus restrictions could threaten the future of the industry, said Scottish seafood exporters on Friday (8 January).
MEP: European food sovereignty is the real issue at stake in CAP talks
Faced with the challenges of climate change and the public health problems posed by the use of pesticides, Europe must now rebuild its food sovereignty, according to socialist lawmaker Eric Andrieu.
UK launches consultation on gene editing, signals divergence from EU
In one of its first post-Brexit moves, the UK has launched a consultation on gene editing in a bid to unlock “substantial benefits” for the sector and the environment, but the move could put the country at odds with the EU on the matter.
Food origin label: EU countries steer Commission toward animal products
Agriculture ministers have prompted the EU executive to prioritise products of animal origin if a mandatory indication of food origin will be included in the upcoming proposal for EU-wide front-of-pack labelling.
Plant breeding sector split over potential of patenting to spur innovation
The European Commission adopted its intellectual property plan in November, hailed as a driver of future growth, but the plant breeding sector remains divided over the potential of intellectual property rights for spurring on much-needed agricultural innovation.
EU bets on research to put Farm to Fork ambition into action
Stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers are seeking to find the right place for innovation in the EU's new flagship food policy with a view to empower consumers to make the best choices for themselves and the planet.