Agrifood
Time to give up sacred EU budget cows
As EU member states debate the bloc’s next 7-year budget, no sector should be off-limits. Annika Hedberg argues that each euro spent should provide added value for the EU and its citizens, including the agricultural sector, a major recipient of EU money.
Greens save glyphosate from EU ban calls, as deal with EPP triumphs
The Greens in the European Parliament have blocked an amendment calling for the ban of Monsanto's controversial weedkiller, as part of a broader political deal with the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) to back a report calling for a rethink of the EU's pesticide approval system.
Scientists call for radical change of diet to transform global food system
The global food system needs urgent reform, less meat consumption and more legumes, as three billion people worldwide are malnourished and food production is exceeding planetary boundaries, scientists have warned in a new report.
Four things to watch ahead of final EU vote on pesticides
European Parliament lawmakers will today (16 January) vote on a non-binding report calling for a rethink of the EU’s authorisation procedure for pesticides.
France takes Roundup weed-killer off market after court ruling
French authorities on Tuesday (15 January) banned the sale of a form of controversial weed-killer Roundup following a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing the widely used herbicide.
Czech food producers call for reinstating EU milk quotas
A number of factors ranging from the end of milk quotas to economic sanctions against Russia and Brexit, have put pressure on the EU milk market, leading Czech industry experts to call for reinstating the quota system. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
The way agricultural aid is distributed creates inequalities, French court of auditors say
The way agricultural aid is distributed in France is unequal and produces negative effects, the French court of auditors said in a summary judgement. The chamber is calling for changes to how aid is allocated under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), though this is currently not on the agenda. EURACTIV France reports.
Europe’s food safety system ‘overstretched’, auditors say
The European Union’s food safety system is respected across the globe but it’s now “overstretched”, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report published on Tuesday (15 January), urging policymakers to bolster implementation capacity.
German farmers ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2019
For the first time, the annual economic forecasts by the German Economic Institute (IW) have also included the agricultural sector. The German Farmers’ Association (DBV) was one of the associations consulted and said it was "cautiously optimistic" for 2019. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hogan urges Czech farmers to invest in processing agri-products to boost competitiveness
Czech farmers have to invest more in processing agricultural products if they want to improve their position in an increasingly competitive environment, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan said in an interview with Aktuálně.cz.
German MEP: Politicians should trust EFSA, set aside their personal views
EU politicians should show trust in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and put their personal opinions on food safety assessments on hold, centre-right MEP Peter Jahr told EURACTIV Germany in an interview.
Ireland will seek EU aid to support livestock in case of hard Brexit
Ireland will seek hundreds of millions of euros in aid from Brussels if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, the agriculture minister was quoted Thursday (3 January) as saying.
Greek minister: CAP budget should be maintained to ensure agriculture sustainability
If a proper balance between resources and obligations in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is not achieved, the future of the EU agriculture and countryside will be uncertain, said Greek agriculture minister Stavros Arachovitis.
The role of digitised information in water safety planning
Digital tools, which provide water utility operators with accurate and timely information, can improve drinking water quality and ensure better water safety planning, experts say. The quality of drinking water currently faces two main challenges: algae blooms and turbidity. Algae...
In Italy the world’s largest network of farmers’ market
Farmers' markets have spread across Italy in just a few years and they offer a great economic and social opportunity, precisely because they allow direct contact between producers and consumers, EURACTIV’s partner Sicilia Agricoltura reports.
Expert: Predictive water management saves costs and the environment
Predictive management and process optimisation in water utilities mean less usage of chemicals, which results in a positive environmental footprint as well as less operational costs for the industry, an expert told EURACTIV.com.OpinionPromoted content
Is eating at the wrong time a handicap for our biological clock?
Until now, research to address the rising incidence of overweight, obesity and metabolic diseases has focused on analysing the impact of diet composition by asking: what are we eating? However, less attention has been paid to another aspect of nutrition: when are we eating?
Greek farmers fume against mayor who banned short food supply chains
The mayor of Kozani, a city in northern Greece, decided to ban the “movement without intermediaries”, which had created a direct link between local farmers and consumers.
Commission official: Water management among Copernicus’ future priorities
The European Commission aims to make Copernicus, the EU’s earth observation programme, a “top tool” in fighting climate change in the future, which will simultaneously be more involved in policies related to water management, a high-ranking EU official said. “One...
CAP reform: Vienna hands the reins over to Bucharest
The debate on CAP reform has made good progress under the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Romania will play the leading role from the beginning of next year. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Spanish producers go digital to shorten food supply chains
Spanish producers are increasingly taking advantage of the booming Internet and digital commerce in order to shorten the supply chain and therefore improve their profitability.
Shocking cases of illegal fishing in EU highlight the need for stronger fisheries control
The European Parliament and the Council must take into consideration recent cases of illegal fishing activities in order to be better prepared for the negotiations over the EU Fisheries Control System’s revision starting next year, writes Elisabeth Druel. Elisabeth Druel...
Can space technologies improve drinking water quality?
The use of space technologies in different sectors of the EU economy has seen an increase lately. Advocates suggest that satellite data could help improve or even optimise production, from agricultural practices to drinking water processing.