About: sustainable farming

MEPs massively back organic farming but snub Farm to Fork target

The European Parliament has green-lighted a new report on the EU’s organic action plan, which stresses a market-based approach but makes no mention of the bloc's ambitious target to see 25% of agricultural land farmed organically by 2030.

It’s not me, it’s you: Unconcious investors bias is holding back female agri entrepreneurs

A number of female agri entrepreneurs are not able to tap into their potential and scale up their businesses due to an unconscious bias among investors, according to Lukxmi Balathasan, business creation manager for EIT Food, who said that this results in a worse outcome for all. 

Farm to Fork studies do not give ‘whole picture’, agri stakeholders warn

Agricultural productivity could decline if several studies on Farm to Fork policy impact are to be believed. But critics say the studies do not paint the whole picture and the EU's flagship food policy is on the right track.

Exploring farming sustainability options

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As the EU's flagship food policy, the Farm to Fork, and its complementary relative, the Biodiversity Strategy, aim to improve sustainability at all levels of the food chain, the focus is now on the tools that could deliver such ambition.

MEPs’ draft report on sustainable farming future sparks controversy

Lawmakers in the European Parliament’s agriculture and environmental committees have staked their preliminary position on the EU's green farming ambitions, voting in favour of a draft report which includes a number of controversial amendments.

France’s climate law takes aim at fertilisers, meat on school menus

France's long awaited climate law will introduce a series of measures impacting the agricultural sector, including to reduce the use of nitrogen based fertilisers and to encourage more vegetarian menus in school canteens. EURACTIV France reports.

EU agri ministers back serving up more organic food in schools, hospitals

EU agriculture ministers gave their green light for the EU organic action plan on Monday (19 July) but warned that measures must be taken to ensure that supply matches demand, including via public procurement schemes for schools and public canteens.

Feed additives ‘key tool’ in achieving farming sustainability goals, say stakeholders

Feed additives hold enormous potential for reducing the environmental impact of the farming sector, but are not getting the attention they deserve according to farming sector and feed industry stakeholders, who are calling for more focus on the role of feed additives in contributing to sustainability goals.

Timmermans calls for greater urgency to tackle biodiversity crisis

Voters and the general public need to increase pressure on politicians to act more urgently in order to protect biodiversity, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans argued on Tuesday (13 October).

Every drop counts: Exploring innovative solutions for Europe’s drought problem

A third consecutive year of drought shows that water scarcity is an increasingly frequent and widespread phenomenon in the EU, and one which holds enormous implications for the agricultural sector. EURACTIV spoke with Netafim, a specialist irrigation company, about the innovative solutions on offer to cope with this. 

French startup set to produce 20 tons of prawns ‘made in France’ by 2021

The first of its kind in Europe, two young French agricultural engineers have launched Agriloops, a saltwater aquaponics startup that aims to produce 20 tonnes of prawns and 40 tonnes of vegetables "made in France" annually. EURACTIV France reports.

Farm to Fork strategy aims to slash pesticide use and risk by half

The long-awaited EU Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy published on Wednesday (20 May) unveiled a highly anticipated 50% target for the reduction of pesticide use and risk.

EU farmers tread carefully on Green Deal, as balance with CAP is not easy stuff

Policymakers are being called to take up the challenge of finding a place for bloc’s farm aid provided under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the ambitious new environmental flagship policy of the European Commission.

The CAP has devastating effects on developing countries, report says

The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) penalises local farmers and harms the environment. It continues to contribute to the injection of palm oil in milk powder, exports of soft wheat to the detriment of local products, as well as to the over-consumption of Latin American soy. EURACTIV France reports.

Citizens are fed up with industrial agriculture

Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was a big issue at this year's Green Week in Berlin. With all the billions of euros available, the agro-ecological transition is more than possible, especially if subsidies to agribusiness and factory farms were stopped, write Harriet Bradley and Trees Robijns.

Commission tells member states to improve sustainability of pesticide use

The European Commission said on Tuesday (10 October) that member states must do more to ensure pesticides are used sustainably to avoid putting human or environmental health at risk.

Figueres calls for EU action plan on ‘imported deforestation’

Former UN climate Chief Christiana Figueres, one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, has called on the European Union to step up regulatory action against deforestation in the global south by tackling emissions of imported agricultural goods, like beef, soy and palm oil.

French wine production drops following drought and frost

The production of French wine is expected to drop by 18% this year due to the weather conditions, according to a statement by the French ministry of agriculture published on Friday, August 25. EURACTIV's partner Ouest France reports.

Fit for purpose, fair and sustainable: A new agricultural policy is possible

A new study by German environmental NGO NABU (BirdLife Germany) shows how current funding could be used more economically and ecologically. But this drastic change requires political will, warns Konstantin Kreiser.