European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable, by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, and making the transition just and inclusive for all.

Recognising that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to Europe and the world, the EGD provides an ambitious package of measures, followed by EU Green Deal Action Plan. These measures include cutting greenhouse gas emissions, investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, and preserving Europe's natural environment.

Fighting climate change and achieving the transition to a climate-neutral society requires significant investments, research and innovation, new ways of producing and consuming, managing waste, and changes in how we work, use transport and live together.

Since solid waste, wastewater, water supply, energy efficiency, air pollution – all these things affect climate change, the EGD addresses environment (waste and recycling) among the key action areas also towards being climate neutral in 2050

Increasing EU’s Climate ambition for 2030 and 2050

Supplying Clean, affordable and secure energy

Mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy

Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way

A zero-pollution ambition for a toxic free environment

Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity

From “Farm to Fork” : a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system

Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility

The EU as a global leader

A European Climate Pact

The European Green Deal

Transforming EU’s economy for a sustainable future

Financing the Transition

Leave no one behind (Just Transition)

Sustainable Europe Investment Plan

The food system�The whole process

Production and consumption are not the only stages to be considered.

​

Processing, distribution and waste management are also vital parts of the circle.

Food systems and Climate Change�Greenhouse Gas Emissions through the Carbon Cycle

• More than 30% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions derive from agriculture and this percentage is expected to grow.
• In the EU, this percentage is 10.3%.

Source: Farm to Fork Strategy, https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-05/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf

​

Source: www.siencefacts.net

The impact of food systems �On the environment

• Food production requires energy and the agricultural industry is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
• Food systems absorb important amounts of natural resources (water, fertilizers etc.).
• Intense agricultural activity may result in biodiversity displacement or loss.
• Pesticides, fertilizers and nutrients are deteriorating water, air and soil quality.
• Soil erosion is a serious threat, despite the improvement among EU countries.

​

Sources: Eurostat SDG2 Statistics Explained, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=SDG_2_-_Zero_hunger#Zero_hunger_in_the_EU:_overview_and_key_trends

Farm to Fork Strategy, https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-05/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf

Photo by: Tim Glass – Adobe Stock.com

The impact of food systems �On the economy

Unfair food production and supply chains do not allow fair economic returns and prosperity, especially for producers.

Productivity in EU agriculture has increased. Relevant investments are not following.

COVID is making things worse, due to the economic downturn.

Sources: Eurostat SDG2 Statistics Explained, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=SDG_2_-_Zero_hunger#Zero_hunger_in_the_EU:_overview_and_key_trends

Farm to Fork Strategy, https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-05/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf

The impact of food systems �On people

More than half of the EU population is overweight and every seventh person is obese.

Food assistance is important for some people in many Member States.

At the same time, 33 million people cannot afford a quality meal every other day.

We need to change our eating habits…

Sources: Eurostat SDG2 Statistics Explained, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=SDG_2_-_Zero_hunger#Zero_hunger_in_the_EU:_overview_and_key_trends

Farm to Fork Strategy, https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-05/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf

Tools to achieve a sustainable food system

• Legal Basis: Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies.
• Framework: Farm to Fork Strategy .
• EU Funding: Cohesion funds & the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
• Financing: Private Investments.
• Enablers: Research, innovation and technology.

Farm to Fork: making EU’s food system sustainable�At the heart of the European Green Deal

The EU’s goals are to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system and strengthen its resilience, ensure food security, lead a global transition towards sustainable food systems and offer new opportunities to its producers.

Source: Farm to Fork Strategy, https://ec.europa.eu/food/system/files/2020-05/f2f_action-plan_2020_strategy-info_en.pdf

Farm to Fork Strategy �In a nutshell

The European Green Deal aims to create a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, that will:

• have a neutral or positive environmental impact and help climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• reverse the loss of biodiversity;
• ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food;
• preserve affordability of food and, at the same time generate fair economic returns, foster competitiveness of the EU supply chain and promote fair trade, globally.

​

Source: European Commission, Food safety sector, https://ec.europa.eu/food/horizontal-topics/farm-fork-strategy_el

Ways forward�Commitments and action plans

Through the Farm to Fork Strategy the Commission has pledged:

​

• To achieve the use of at least 25% of the EU’s agricultural land under organic farming and to significantly increase organic aquaculture by 2030.
• To enhance its action to reduce the overall use of chemical pesticides by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 2030.
• To develop, along with Member States, an integrated nutrient management action plan to address nutrient pollution.
• To propose a harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling.
• To clarify the competition rules for collective initiatives, in order to promote sustainability in the European supply chains.

​

Expected legislation�Amendments and new introductions

Furthermore the Commission is planning:

• To propose a legislative framework for sustainable food systems before the end of 2023.
• To revise the existent animal welfare legislation, regarding feeding, medication, transportation and slaughtering.
• To develop an EU Code of conduct for responsible business and marketing practice.
• To set the minimum mandatory criteria for sustainable food procurement in institutional catering, whether on a national, regional or local level.
• To revise the food contact materials legislation to improve food safety and public health and contribute to food waste reduction.
• To work on a legislative initiative to substitute single-use plates, packaging and cutlery by reusable products in the food and beverage sector.

​

Essential components

• Research & innovation: should encourage solutions for adequate nutrition, quality of food, circular economy applications in farming etc.
• Technology: fast internet would enable remote crop supervision, lower costs and promote the use of edge technologies, such as satellites and AI in farming.
• Investments: a safe environment should be establish, to facilitate private financing that will, in turn, promote innovation.
• Advisory services: should be tailored to everyone’s special needs, so as to be productive.
• Data and knowledge sharing: among producers, member states and the EU, to promote best practices and avoid mistakes.
• New skills: farmers, SMEs and retailers should be trained through the Enterprise Europe Network and the Commission’s Skill Agenda.
• International cooperation: to achieve a global, just transition to sustainable food systems.

Local Authorities �Ways to contribute

Local authorities, assemblies and communities should:

• Engage in debates, to contribute to the formulation of a sustainable food policy in the future.
• Inform local producers and enterprises, on opportunities to obtain knowledge and skills, related to the farm-to-fork priorities.
• Provide a complete waste management system, while informing and motivating local communities on how to use it.
• Educate local communities on how to make healthier nutrition choices, by explaining labeling and informing people on dietary needs.
• Improve the availability and price of healthy choices in school and municipality-owned canteens.