Sustainable food systems
EU honey harvests feel the sting of climate change with record losses
Honey harvests dropped by 40% this year, on the back of extreme weather conditions, according to EU farmers association COPA-COGECA, who sounded the alarm and warned that the sector urgently needs help from the European Commission.
Distance not determining factor of sustainability, says Commission official
Short food chains, often thought of as a 'healthier' way to get food on the table, are not necessarily synonymous with sustainability, according to a Commission official, who called for a considered approach to the trade and sustainability debate.
Innovative agri project aims to create ‘digital tenants’ in Croatia
On the back of an increased interest in reconnecting consumers with local food, Croatian citizens are being offered the chance to be involved in an innovative 'agri-digital' project, known as a "Gruntek". EURACTIV Croatia took a closer look.
2020 – The ‘perfect storm’ for Europe’s SMEs?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Europe’s economy. They represent over 90% of all businesses in the EU. They employ around 100 million people, account for more than half of Europe’s GDP and play a key role...
Plant biodiversity suffers without livestock grazing, says expert
On the back of a recent European Commission-funded report which called for nuance in the livestock vs environment debate, EURACTIV took a look at the importance of EU grasslands and the role of livestock in maintaining them.Despite pandemic’s disaster, brewers insist on EU climate goals
The EU beer industry has vowed to continue investing in sustainable practices in their brewing processes to meet EU Green Deal goals despite disastrous implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Spread of COVID in minks could hamper potential vaccine, warns EU disease centre
The spread of COVID variants via mink farms could compromise the efficacy of a vaccine, according to a rapid risk assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Thursday (12 November), which offered up a series of recommendations for dealing with the outbreak.
EU farming recovery fund to be rolled out from 2021
A provisional agreement has been struck on the rollout of recovery funds in the EU agricultural sector, which will make a total of €10 billion available for farmers from 2021 up until the end of 2022.
Agri SMEs need extra helping hand to benefit from post-COVID opportunities
Small and medium-sized enterprises will need an extra helping hand to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic to adapt to the new reality, stakeholders have warned.
From ‘spent’ to ‘saved’ grains: reusing by-products in the brewing industry
The EU brewing sector is exploring innovative solutions to upcycle wasted by-products from beer production into products suitable for human and animal consumption as part of their commitment to contribute towards the EU’s green goals.
Avian flu threat looms large in EU after cases detected in Netherlands
The detection of several cases of avian influenza in the Netherlands has set the EU on red alert for the possibility of spread elsewhere, leaving the country itself on 'high alert' and preparing a mass culling of animals.
Commission to consider halting export of banned pesticides, EU source says
The European Commission will look to ensure that hazardous chemicals, such as pesticides, banned in the European Union are not produced for export, including by “amending relevant legislation if and as needed”, an EU source has confirmed to EURACTIV.
Commission official: Farm to Fork to be steadily evaluated in its implementation
No impact assessment of the pivotal EU's food policy as such is in the pipeline but each measure in the strategy will be separately evaluated, a Commission official ensured.
EU food origin labels should be placed on the cards, stakeholders say
Adding another element to the current food labelling debates in the EU, stakeholders have called for an EU origin label to be taken into consideration, saying this would encourage consumers to support the European livestock sector.
The Farm to Fork is too much of a political utopia
The EU's new blueprint for sustainable food systems risks hurting both consumers and farmers, writes Bill Wirtz.
Experts warn of ‘inevitable disruption’ of food supply chains with no-deal Brexit
After the United Kingdom voted against including guarantees on food standards in its post-Brexit legislation this week, experts have warned that a no-deal Brexit holds wide-ranging ramifications for food safety and businesses.
Campaigners call on EU to halt export of banned pesticides
Civil society organisations are calling on the EU to halt the production and export of banned pesticides to third countries, some of which they say can be detected in food sold back to the EU market.
No pollinators mean no agriculture, Commission Vice-President warns
Speaking before the European Parliament's plenary, the Dutch Commissioner Frans Timmermans cautioned farmers about the need to change tack on European agricultural policy.
Routine illegal pig-tail docking continues unabated in the EU
Despite the fact that the practice was outlawed over 20 years ago, only two member states have banned pig-tail docking, according to a Commission response offered to a parliamentary question on the matter.
EU farmers boss: Farm to Fork to be revised, if negative impact was proved
The European Commission's new food policy should be reviewed if a future impact assessment shows that it will negatively affect farmers, the newly-elected chair of farmers association COPA, Christiane Lambert, told EURACTIV.com.
‘Efficiency not a dirty word’: why bigger can sometimes mean better in farming
The concept of efficiency and productivity in farming is often taken to mean poor animal welfare and sustainability, but that is not necessarily the case and more work must be done to change this perception, stakeholders highlighted at a recent event on animal welfare.
Member states coalition presents latest challenge to colour-coded nutrition label
The fight against France’s Nutri-Score system reigning supreme as the mandatory EU-wide nutrition food label has kicked up a notch with the addition of a new non-paper backed by multiple member states.
Targets for anti-microbials must allow for ‘massive’ variation within livestock sector
Ambitions to lower the use of antibiotics in farming must take into account the “massive” amount of variation between member states and also between species, according to a leading livestock sustainability consultant who also highlighted the pressing need to digitalise the animal health sector.
Farmers lament lack of support from Commission chief as Brexit looms
The President of the Irish farmers association has expressed his disappointment at the lack of support Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen showed Irish citizens and farmers during her ‘State of the Union’ speech, saying that her comments about Brexit were “chilling" for Irish farmers.