Agrifood
Commission repeals US anti-dumping duties on ethanol, irritates industry
Following an expiry review, the European Commission has decided to repeal the antidumping measures against imports of bioethanol from the USA. The decision has triggered reactions of the EU ethanol industry, which warns about severe economic and climate implications.
EU commissioner says agriculture not on agenda for US talks
The European Union intends to keep agriculture off the agenda in its trade talks with the United States and continues to support rules-based, open and predictable international commerce, the EU's agriculture commissioner said on Friday (10 May).
Malaysian minister: ‘Palm oil is a deal-braker for EU-ASEAN trade relations’
Teresa Kok, Malaysia's Minister of Primary Industries, visited Brussels and other European capitals this week in a last-ditch effort to kill new EU rules that will ban the use of palm oil in biofuels – a measure European adopted because of concerns about deforestation.
EU bets on digitalisation to fight illegal fishing
The European Commission launched a new IT tool on Tuesday (8 May) to track illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) from third countries, with a view to set up an entirely digitalised documentation of catches.
Farmers launch rallying cry for European elections
"Vote for our future". Copa-Cogeca, the European umbrella organisation of farmers and cooperatives, called on all farmers to vote in the upcoming European elections, spelling out its demands for Europe's future agricultural policy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Human society under urgent threat from loss of Earth’s natural life
A landmark UN report published yesterday (6 May) reveals 1 million species are at risk of extinction, with agriculture and fishing the primary causes of the deterioration, which also threatens humankind. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Nutrition expert: Food labelling needs harmonised and nutrient-rich profiling
Energy-dense foods are cheap while nutrient-rich foods cost more, and this imbalance is at the root of the global obesity pandemic, nutrition expert Adam Drewnowski told EURACTIV. He suggested that policymakers should adopt harmonised nutrient-rich profiling on food labelling in order...OpinionPromoted content
Obesity – the biggest threat to public health
Obesity rates have tripled, making it the biggest threat to public health. At Herbalife Nutrition, we’re committed to effecting change where it is needed most.
Childhood obesity is a plague on Southern Europe, new WHO report finds
Higher numbers of severe obesity and overweight cases were reported in Southern European, according to a new study from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Treatment and management options are still having a limited impact.
Northern French region banks on bioeconomy
In September 2018, the Hauts-de-France region (northern France) adopted a bioeconomy roadmap. The former sugar region wants to become a leader in the sector. EURACTIV France reports.
German farmers denounce poor management of nitrate pollution case
The energy transition is bringing major changes to the agricultural sector. EURACTIV Germany spoke to secretary-general of the German Farmers' Association (DBV) Krüsken about Germany’s approach to reducing nitrate levels, droughts, and expanding grids.
Commission calls for bioeconomy strategies to be expanded and implemented
Under the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission will not approve the national strategic plan of a member state that does not include the promotion of the bioeconomy in agriculture, the EU's farming Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Thursday (25 April).
Bioeconomy, a smarter way of using agricultural resources
Giving biological resources such as residues and waste a second life means also making money out of the closing of the production circle. Bioeconomy promotes a smarter way of using and also conceiving these resources.
French low-carbon label plants seeds of agricultural and forestry transition
A new label aims to encourage the emergence of projects that reduce and sequester greenhouse gas emissions. EURACTIV’s partner le Journal de l’Environnement reports.
EU curbs trans fats from 2021 to boost heart health
The EU adopted a regulation on Wednesday (24 April) to curb trans fat amounts in products like snack food as part of efforts to fight heart disease and strokes in Europe.
Food industry hails new EU rules on mutual recognition of goods
Food industry representatives welcomed the recently revised EU legislation on mutual recognition of goods as a major step forward in the completion of the EU single market. But they said more efforts were needed to improve standardisation, even the well-harmonised food sector.
Private sector is part of the solution in bioeconomy, experts say
The private sector has a key role to play in promoting bioeconomy in the agrifood sector, high-level experts have told EURACTIV.com. However, they said the risk of depriving the food production system of organic resources must be weighed up.
Netherlands launches 2030 vision to protect biodiversity in agriculture
The Dutch government has launched a new vision for the country’s agriculture, which prioritises the protection of natural resources and the reduction of the sector's environmental impact.
The bioeconomy in the post-2020 CAP
Over 18 million people across the EU were employed in the bioeconomy in 2015 – mainly in the agriculture, food and beverage sectors, according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
Chorus of approval over new EU food safety transparency rules
On Wednesday (17 April) a large majority of MEPs gave a thumbs up to an overhaul of the General Food Law (GFL). The increased transparency of the EU risk assessment, already acknowledged as one of the most stringent in the world, has now been hailed.
MEPs confirm electric fishing ban, despite eleventh-hour Dutch effort
The European Parliament approved on Tuesday (16 April) new technical rules on fishing activities and catching methods allowed within EU waters, confirming that the use of electric currents or 'pulse fishing' will be illegal from mid-2021.
Letters reveal Parliament split ahead of European Defence Fund vote
Ahead of a crucial European Parliament vote on the European Defence Fund (EDF) on Thursday (17 April), MEPs are at odds over the issue of parliamentary scrutiny, internal communication seen by EURACTIV suggests.
Eastern Europe backs locally produced biofuels to save climate and farmers
Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic have signed a joint declaration saying that Europe will be able to de-carbonise transport through the use of locally produced clean biofuels, which will also boost rural areas and farmers.