Future-proofing EU Agri-Food through research and innovation

24–25 September 2026 Brussels. EU AgRI 2040 Conference “Future-proofing EU Agri-Food through research and innovation”

The two-day event, was chance to connect with key stakeholders and help shape the priorities of the next Horizon Europe EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme and the future European Competitiveness Fund.

• Day 1 explored how research and innovation can support more competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture, forestry and rural areas. Discussions will focus on deploying and scaling up solutions, strengthening knowledge uptake by farmers, foresters and rural actors, and identifying research and innovation needs that can translate into practical solutions and market opportunities.
• Day 2 built on these exchanges to consider how strategic research and innovation partnerships can be strengthened within the EU and beyond. Participants will reflect on lessons learned from current initiatives, ways to connect public-interest objectives with public and private innovation capacities, and meaningful engagement with international partners.

Highlights:

24/09 11:00 – 12:30 Fostering deployment, scaling-up and uptake of research and innovation results in agriculture, forestry and rural areas

Panel discussion: How to bolster opportunities and overcome barriers for deployment, scaling up and
uptake of R&I outputs? What are successful examples?

• Elisabeth Werner, Director-General, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
• Richard Zaltzman, CEO, EIT-Food
• Adrián Ferrero, EU Mission Soil Board Member
• Jan van Esch, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
• Iulia Blagu, President, Romanian National Association of Women in Agriculture

25/09 11:30 – 12:45 (CEST) Partnerships for research and innovation that foster competitive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Europe and beyond

Panel discussion: How to build strong strategic partnerships within the EU and beyond? What are successful examples?

• 
  Charles Spillane, Chief Scientist, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
• Anna Okello, Director of the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
• Jean Francois de Saedeleer, Senior Engineer in Bioeconomy, European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Katariina Kemppainen, Chair of the Governance Board, Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC)
• Ulrike Ziegler, Coordinator, Horizon Europe Partnership ‘Agroecology’
• Mette Damgaard Nielsen, Senior Scientific Manager, Novo Nordisk Global
• Valérie Corre, Director European Affairs, Tereos

Related:

8 September 2026. The European Commission launched a new strategic approach to boost research, innovation, deployment and uptake in Europe’s agri-food sector.


The European Commission adopted a Communication on a new Strategic Approach to Research and Innovation for competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems. This strategic document brings together two closely interlinked frameworks, to guide future research, innovation, deployment and uptake across the entire agri-food sector. These frameworks are AgRI 2040, focusing on agriculture, forestry and rural areas, and Food 2040, focusing on food systems, including fisheries and aquaculture.

The Communication identifies cooperation with international partners as one of six cross-cutting priorities and specifically points to the AU–EU FNSSA Roadmap and its International Research Consortium as the framework for identifying common R&I priorities with Africa.

GFAiR through its global coordination and network along with the 5 Regional Fora (FARA, APAARI, CACAARI, FORAGRO, EFARD) can contribute to Food 2040 by acting as the bridge between the EU’s global R&I ambitions and the priorities, capacities and innovation systems of their regions.