Food chain sustainability
Eurocommerce boss: ‘no food shortages’ in EU provided everyone plays by the rules
Despite the agri-food chain have been under pressure in the past few weeks in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no risk of food shortage provided that people behave appropriately, the head of the food retailers lobby told EURACTIV.
Farmers association and NGOs at odds over postponement of new EU food policy
Farmers association COPA-COGECA has backed the further postponement and debut of the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, due to mounting pressures faced by farmers over the COVID-19 outbreak, but this stance has been heavily criticised.
French farmers and MPs call for the creation of European food stocks
French agricultural producers and MPs are urging the European Commission to set up food stocks to avoid falling prices and the destruction of certain food products. EURACTIV France reports.
EU recommends keeping borders open as agri-labour conundrum looms large
Following concerns regarding a shortage of labour in the agri-food sector, the Commission has issued new practical advice to ensure that seasonal workers can travel to work in critical occupations.
Farmers warn of far-reaching COVID-19 effects on EU agriculture
A new report from farmers’ association COPA-COGECA outlines the multi-faceted ways in which COVID-19 is leaving its mark on the agricultural sector, from flower growers to meat producers.
Open-air markets ban: Another blow to struggling small farmers
Local farmers' markets have become the latest coronavirus casualty after France took the decision to close open-air markets as a further measure curb the spread of coronavirus. However, the move has proved controversial given that it stands to disproportionately affect small producers.
COVID-19 measures could cause ‘devastating’ labour shortage in EU farming
Europe’s farming sector could face a dramatic shortfall in workers as a consequence of the border restrictions put in place to stem the spread of novel coronavirus, which could lead to “devastating” impacts, according to Pekka Pesonen, secretary-general or farmers association COPA-COGECA.
Coronavirus puts French agricultural production centre-stage
In France, the coronavirus crisis has put the agricultural sector back in the spotlight as concerns persist about the transport of food and seasonal shortages of farm labourers. EURACTIV France reports.
Balancing the agriculture supply chain, Spanish and community objectives.
The food value chain - primary, industry and distribution - lives in an unbalanced situation, in which farmers and ranchers are the most affected, with prices that are sometimes lower than production costs.
EU’s draft food policy to address livestock farming emissions, animal welfare
The latest draft of the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), obtained by EURACTIV, features a few notable changes from the previous version, including an emphasis on the possible role of animal farming in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and on options for animal welfare labelling.
Meat sector must adapt to climate change or face ruin, new analysis warns
A new climate scenario model on the meat sector shows that the industry stands to lose billions in the event of the scenario of a 2°C warmer world by 2050.
Are Europeans ready for an insect-based diet?
While insect-based foods have so far been quite a niche product, they are viewed as a highly promising solution to the challenges facing the food industry. Although new EU regulations should pave the way for these products - European eating habits might have to change too. EURACTIV Germany reports.
LEAK: EU’s Farm to Fork strategy will be based on five key targets
In addition to longstanding objectives like the reduction of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the European Commission envisages setting three more targets in its new flagship food policy, EURACTIV can reveal.
Nestlé chief: EU’s Green Deal should ensure prosperity too
The announced EU food policy should also strive to create future prosperity for businesses in good harmony with the environment, not only to take policies against some parts of the food value chain, Nestlé Europe chief Marco Settembri told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Embracing technology to feed a growing world
It is time for America and Europe to work together to solve the next great challenge facing us - to produce enough food, with fewer inputs, to feed a growing world population - which means embracing innovation and technology in a safe, sustainable agriculture, writes Sonny Perdue.
In Paris, organic farming takes over fallow parking lots
In Paris, as in many European cities, the number of cars is declining, which is leaving a vast amount of underground car parks empty. With its start-up project called "La Caverne", Cycloponics is reclaiming these urban territories using them as a way of growing plenty of organic vegetables. EURACTIV France reports.
Europe aims to make its food a global green standard, despite trade concerns
Ahead of a much-anticipated ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy to accompany the EU Green Deal, some EU policymakers say Europe’s food should be protected from American pressure.
Sustainable Food Systems: Does the EU ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy have all the answers?
As the food sector strives to move towards more sustainable food systems and implementing the United Nations SDGs, it faces growing challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and malnutrition, all affecting the sector and society alike.
Sinkevicius: EU aims to ensure viable food packaging recycling by 2030
The Circular Economy Action Plan and the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F) have the same overarching objective of reducing unsustainable resource use by promoting sustainable production and consumption and reducing waste generation, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
European Parliament kicks off debate on pesticide, food waste cuts
MEPs agreed their first stance on the new Commission’s environmental flagship policy, the European Green Deal, aiming at halving food waste by 2030 and setting binding reduction targets for hazardous pesticides.
Cultured meat could be on the EU market ‘as early as 2022’
After environmentalist George Monbiot’s controversial “Apocalypse Cow” documentary recently suggested that we may soon see the end of all farming, EURACTIV took a look at cultured meat to see what it is and where we're at.
Could Germany impose a tax on meat?
Shortly before Germany launches its "green week", Lower Saxony's conservative agriculture minister, Barbara Otte-Kinast (CDU), raised the issue of introducing a meat tax, again, which is something animal welfare activists have been demanding for years. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Welfare of rabbits farmed in Europe not up to scratch, says EFSA
The welfare of adult rabbits kept in conventional cage systems is worse than that of those housed in other systems used in the EU, EFSA has concluded in an extensive study which investigated rabbit welfare in the EU.