Fostering sustainable and resilient food systems at times of growing crises

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Ongoing (updated on 11/06/2024) - Bureau decision date: 19/03/2024
Reference
NAT/935-EESC
Opinion Type
Exploratory opinion Presidency
Rapporteur
Joe HEALY (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Ireland), Piroska KÁLLAY (Workers - GR II/Hungary), Arnold PUECH d'ALISSAC (Employers - GR I/France)
Plenary session number
591
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Practical information

  1. Composition of the Study group
  2. Administrators / Assistants in charge: Myrto KOLYVA/ Luca PITRONE & Zahra KADIRI
  3. Contact

 

Background

The effects on European agriculture caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war and the increasingly extreme weather conditions have clearly shown that the existing crisis management measures are insufficient and inadequate to deal with growing crises situations, which are leading to social tensions as well. The Hungarian presidency of the Council therefore considered it important to examine how food systems can be more sustainable and resilient, and requested an exploratory opinion to the EESC.

Based on the EESC's previous work on a comprehensive food policy and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), this exploratory opinion aims to put forward civil society recommendations to foster sustainable and resilient food systems in the EU through a holistic approach. This includes identifying crisis management tools under the CAP, showcasing solutions to decrease the dependency on market prices such as territorial approaches to food systems, highlighting the importance of participatory mechanisms such as a European Food Policy Council, identifying the assets of a holistic EU food policy framework, analysing specific investments needs, etc.

This opinion aims to feed the discussions launched at the EU AGRIFISH council of 27 May 2024, where member states' agriculture ministers announced their willingness to strengthen crisis management tools, cand the need for flexible, resilient and more far-sighted crisis management, in which research and innovation play a major role.