After a year which saw farmer protests in European capitals, I was interested to be moderating the EU Agri Food Days in Brussels in December 2024. With a backdrop of turbulent geopolitics, war in Ukraine, an unpopular trade deal, potential EU enlargement, rising prices and climate change, European farmers, policy makers, agri-food business representatives discussed the outlook of European agriculture.
My panel “Nourishing Food Sovereignty - Trade policies in the light of Resilient and Sustainable Food systems” was a particularly sensitive one. Designated as the panel where the divisive EU Mercosur agreement would be discussed, I was also cognisant not to let arguments over Mercosur dominate the session. Some diplomacy and skilful steering of discussion were required.
The main takeaway from the 4 panels I facilitated is that the Commission is listening to farmers. Keynote speaker and President of the European Investment Bank Nadia Calviño announced a €3 billion financing package for agriculture, forestry and fisheries across Europe with a share of the loans earmarked for struggling young farmers. The Commission also proposed targeted amendments to the current legal framework and a new Regulation on cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices aimed to strengthen farmers' position and restore the trust between actors in the agri-food supply chain. The announcements are in line with the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture.
From the organic bee farmer in Poland, the organic wine producer in the Czech republic, the cattle farmer in the Austrian Tyrol, the young arable farmer and President of the European Council of Young Farmers who all spoke so eloquently on my panels, I was struck by the diversity of farming across Europe and the huge challenges farmers must overcome every day.