Sustainable food systems as drivers for the implementation of the SDGs

Scope and objectives

On 17 November 2023, the Permanent Group on Sustainable Food Systems (PG) and the Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO) of the EESC will hold a joint meeting on the theme "Sustainable food systems as drivers for the implementation of the SDGs".

The event will bring together members of the two EESC bodies and representatives from the European Commission and other stakeholders from the agri-food chain.

The aim will be to explore how sustainable food systems can contribute in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing concrete examples and best practices, but also identifying the associated challenges.

Food supply chain actors will be asked to:

• present concrete initiatives from the ground that they are already undertaking towards more sustainability (e.g. more sustainable agricultural practices, food labelling, packaging and packaging waste);
• identify the challenges to continue and scale up these initiatives, and
• provide recommendations for the upcoming Sustainable Food Systems Framework.

This event will be webstreamed freely on our website and interpretation will be provided in EN, DE, and FR.

Context

Our planet is running out of resources, but populations are continuing to grow. Our consumption, production and waste habits need to change in order to achieve the Agenda 2030.

Sustainable Food Systems are part of the solution: they should be re-designed in a holistic way to increase resilience and reduce impacts on GHG emissions, prevent natural resources and biodiversity loss, while ensuring fair economic returns for all actors and addressing the hunger affecting millions of people.