A major cross-sector review of EU food and farming recognises organic as the “only regulated sustainable production system that already delivers environmental and climate protection”. 

The final report of the Strategic Dialogue, cross-sector discussions launched in January by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, was published last week and calls for a fundamental rethink of farming to support the most vulnerable farmers and reward those who protect nature.

The Strategic Dialogue was conceived as part of the Commission’s response to the farmers’ protests which erupted across Europe last year and have continued into 2024. Part of the aim of the initiative was to shift the debate “away from the polarisation” in the response to major EU policies such as the Green Deal and Farm to Fork. It will also directly inform and influence future reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). 

The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture sets out 14 main recommendations (see box). The recommendations are backed by a broad group, including farming lobby groups, food companies, retailers, biotech companies, environmental and consumer organisations. But the welcome comes with a warning that converting encouraging words into concrete actions will require significant political will. 

Urgent need for change
Green MEP and member of the Agriculture Committee, Cristina Guarda, said: “This report demonstrates the urgent need for change in EU agricultural policies. It is now up to the Commission to ensure the recommendations are enacted in the next CAP proposal.”

Agustín Reyna, director general of the European consumer body BEUC, said the report signalled an “ambitious direction of travel for the future of food and agriculture”. She added: “The consensus that emerged from this diverse group of stakeholders, beyond polarisation, brings unique legitimacy to our recommendations. We count on Ms von der Leyen to integrate them in her upcoming vision for agriculture and food”. Marco Contiero, a member of the Strategic Dialogue task force and Greenpeace EU agriculture policy director said: “That such a broad and unlikely coalition is recommending these sweeping changes shows how broken EU farming policy is.” 

“That such a broad and unlikely coalition is recommending these sweeping changes shows how broken EU farming policy is”

Backing for organic
Recommendation 7 in the report – ‘Enhancing sustainable farming practices’ – recognises organic farming as “the only sustainable production system regulated by EU legislation, which insures its sustainability through strict production and processing principles, accompanied by third-party control and certification”. The report states that the European Commission and Member States should support organic production to: 

• Ensure a balanced development of supply and demand by stimulating demand for organic products, such as through sustainable public procurement

• Strengthen the organic market by investing in promoting the European organic logo in EU and third countries and supporting retailers and processes by more coherent requirements and less burdens of rules and controls

• Ensure adequate funding through CAP to support the conversion and maintenance of organic farms

• Enhance funding for organic research within European innovation partnerships and upcoming EU research programmes

• Establish policies and funding mechanisms for knowledge, creation and dissemination and mainstream education to organic farming and agroecology in agricultural training at all levels

• Foster, the growth of organic farming networks and advisory services at national and EU levels

IFOAM Organics Europe president, Jan Plagge, who took part in the dialogue, said: “The Strategic Dialogue was not a walk in the park, but it proved to be a valuable initiative to move beyond the current polarisation on agriculture issues. The dialogue succeeded in identifying a common way forward for EU agriculture considering it should be within the planetary boundaries and reconcile environmental sustainability with a fair income for farmers. There is broad agreement that transitioning to sustainable farming systems is necessary and should pay off for farmers. This will mean a significant reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) so it adequately rewards organic farmers and offers real financial added value for the environmental services they are providing.”

On organic’s role as the leading choice to reach this common goal, Plagge continued: “The Strategic Dialogue recommendations recognise organic farming as the only regulated sustainable production system that already delivers environmental and climate protection, and as prime example of a food production system that reconciles nature protection and farmers’ income. If policymakers implement the recommendations, organic farming would be further strengthened and more attractive in a food system in which the sustainable choice would be the easiest”.