European Commission Unveils New Agri-Food Strategy Amid Environmental Concerns

The European Commission has recently introduced a new strategy for the European Union's agri-food sector, aiming to reduce regulations, protect farmers from external competition, and provide targeted financial support while enforcing stricter import standards.

However, this vision has been criticized by environmental activists for disregarding essential ecological proposals and neglecting recommendations derived from previous strategic dialogues.

Key Criticisms and Environmental Concerns

One of the main criticisms of the new strategy is the lack of concrete measures to eliminate payments based on farm size and the absence of a just transition fund to support farmers in reducing pollution. These proposals had been previously formulated by a diverse group of stakeholders from the food supply chain at the request of the European Commission.

Marco Contiero, Greenpeace EU’s Director of Agricultural Policy, emphasized that although farmers, environmental experts, scientists, traders, and food companies had agreed on the need for systemic change in the European food and agricultural model, the Commission's vision does not reflect this urgent necessity.

Environmental activists have also expressed concerns that the proposed reforms for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are not ambitious enough. There are fears that, in the name of simplification, additional nature protection rules could be removed, particularly as some were already postponed, eliminated, or weakened last year. Giulia Riedo of WWF EU described the new vision as a “vague roadmap” making only minor steps toward fairer and more sustainable food supply chains.

Riedo acknowledged that while some positive elements exist—such as the commitment to enforcing environmental legislation more strictly and providing financial incentives to farmers exceeding existing environmental requirements—the Commission failed to address critical issues, including the need to increase environmental payments.

Farmers’ Lobby Backs the Proposal

In contrast, Copa and Cogeca, the largest farmers’ lobbying groups in Europe, welcomed the proposal, calling it a “pragmatic reset” and stating that the Commission's agricultural policy has regained direction. However, they stressed that the issue of the future CAP budget and the resources needed to fund these measures remains unaddressed.

Cleaning up European farms is essential for the long-term health of the sector, as well as for protecting wildlife and preventing global warming. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), most European soils are unhealthy, with 60-75% containing excessive nitrogen levels and 80% showing pesticide residues.

The EEA estimates the societal cost of soil degradation at approximately €50 billion per year. Marilda Dhaskali of BirdLife Europe warned that by neglecting the enforcement of crucial environmental laws and continuing to subsidize the wealthiest landowners, this plan marginalizes farmers who genuinely care for Europe’s landscapes. Without decisive action to restore nature and adapt to climate realities, Europe’s food security is at risk.

Overlooking Key Dietary Shifts

Another major criticism of the Commission’s vision is its omission of a key conclusion from the previous strategic dialogue, which recognized the need to reduce meat consumption.

Dialogue participants acknowledged that Europeans consume more animal protein than scientists recommend and agreed that support is needed to rebalance diets toward plant-based proteins. Julia Christian of the NGO Fern highlighted that European diets are fundamentally shaped by an industrial food system that makes it difficult for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable foods.

The Commission’s vision missed a crucial opportunity to address this issue. Instead of supporting measures to encourage consumers to eat more vegetables, legumes, and fruits, the Commission focused almost exclusively on agricultural production, ignoring the broader picture of food system reform.

A Sustainable Yet Competitive Sector

European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, stated that the proposals will make the sector more sustainable while keeping it attractive and well-paid enough to draw younger generations. He emphasized the importance of finding solutions collaboratively with farmers and food producers through dialogue rather than imposing rigid targets.

Conclusion

While the European Commission’s new strategy for the agri-food sector promises some improvements, the lack of essential ecological measures and the disregard for recommendations from the previous strategic dialogue raise concerns about its effectiveness in addressing today’s environmental and sustainability challenges.