EC Vision for Agriculture and Food

EC (2025) A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations # 28 pp 

This Communication sets out a vision for Europe’s agri-food system for 2040 and beyond and presents a roadmap to guide EU action to ensure that all policies work in step with this vision and are adapted to new realities. In many areas, a better alignment between national and EU policies will be required to achieve the goals. This vision also supports the delivery of the EU Competitiveness Compass, the overarching EU flagship initiative to boost EU competitiveness. 

The policy response is articulated around four fundamental priority areas. 

1. Building an attractive sector that ensures a fair standard of living and leverages new income opportunities
2. A competitive and resilient sector in the face of global challenges
3. Future-proofing the agri-food sector that works hand in hand with nature
4. Valuing food and fostering fair living and working conditions in vibrant rural areas

The Communication spells out work strands on how these policy initiatives will be shaped in an inclusive and cooperative manner. The delivery of these priority areas rests largely on important flanking elements, namely simplification of the regulatory framework that impacts farmers and the entire agri-food value chain, and innovation that offers solutions for a sustainable transition.

The Commission will in 2025, as part of the simplification package in Q4, put forward a proposal that accelerates the access for biopesticides to the EU market. It will provide a definition of biocontrol active substances, introduce the possibility for Member States to grant provisional authorisations for plant protection products containing such biocontrol active substances while their evaluation is still ongoing and create a fast-track procedure for their approval and authorisation. (page 19) 

Continuous support for organic farming remains essential, while other integrated approaches could be further encouraged. In this respect, putting in place independent and reliable advisory services will be critical to ensure that farmers can draw on best knowledge profiting soil and farming. (page 20)

CREATING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT: PUTTING RESEARCH, INNOVATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AT THE HEART OF EUROPE’S AGRI-FOOD ECONOMY (page 24)

1. Digitalisation as a driver to further advance the transition
2. Knowledge, Research & Innovation as catalysts of change
   
   To deliver results tailored to farmers’ needs, the co-creation of knowledge and innovation in local experimentation sites on-farm with farmers, scientists, innovators and business, e.g. in living laboratories, should be scaled up. (page 25)
   
   Further strengthening existing public-public and public-private R&I partnerships and considering new ones will be key to pool resources, talents, and research infrastructures. In this respect, a strengthened cooperation with the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) is key. On the global stage, reinforcing international partnerships and cooperation with international organisations like FAO, WOAH, CGIAR and OECD will help deliver on innovative solutions to the global challenges and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (page 26)
   
   
3. Strengthen knowledge and innovation systems in agriculture and support for advice 
   
   The Member States need to put substantial efforts into strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) and match resources with the broader range of needs faced by the sector, in particular to better support farmers in their transition to sustainability.  (page 27)