Climate, geopolitics: European agriculture on the brink of collapse

Today, during a discussion with the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, Farm Europe alerted the European Commission on the extremely alarming situation facing European agriculture, caught between geopolitical tensions that have caused production costs to skyrocket and the onslaught of climate change, which is highlighting the vulnerabilities of the European Union’s agricultural production systems, that have been focusing on regulatory, non-productive investments over recent decades. 

Farm Europe thanks Mr Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture, for his mobilisation and commitment but warns on the need to urgently move beyond traditional approaches in order to overcome short-term cash flow challenges faced by farmers, whilst preparing a long-term plan for growth and resilience in European agriculture. 

“EU agriculture is not merely facing temporary difficulties. It is being worn down by the geopolitical crisis, by severe drought over summer and the accumulation of non-productive investments aimed at compliance with regulations rather than adaptation to climate change”, alerted Yves Madre, President of Farm Europe. “The current growing seasons mark a tipping point. They cast a harsh light on Europe’s vulnerabilities in a world where agricultural production lies at the heart of geopolitical confrontation. Over recent decades, the European Union has adapted its agricultural policy without addressing the challenges facing agricultural production in a changing climate. It is paying the price for this today. Farm Europe therefore calls on the European Commissioner for Agriculture to launch a new initiative, a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders across the value chain to rebuild genuine European agricultural sovereignty, covering not only food security but also the challenges of a carbon-neutral economy”, he added. 

“Europe needs an ambitious recovery and investment plan for agriculture, built on fair incomes for farmers, strong production capacity and food sovereignty. Investing in agriculture means ensuring that high-quality food remains affordable for European citizens, rather than paving the way for alternatives disconnected from farming, such as laboratory-made products or ultra-formulated foods. This is how we strengthen European agriculture, both at home and on international markets,” said Ettore Prandini, President of Coldiretti and Chair of Farm Europe’s Strategic Committee.

“We cannot continue moving from one emergency to the next. Fertiliser costs, soaring fuel prices and drought demonstrate why we need a long-term strategy based on investment planning. For instance, enabling farmers to make full use of digestate would help reduce the cost of chemical fertilisers while preserving soil quality. This is just one example of the concrete action we need from the EU, and there are many others. Farm Europe and its members are bringing forward concrete solutions for the entire agricultural value chain. A stronger partnership with the European Commission will be key to putting agriculture back at the heart of Europe’s strategic choices,” concluded Prandini.

In recent years, European agriculture as a whole has fallen behind. Over the last two decades, the EU has lost almost 8 million hectares of cereal crops, 10% of its livestock and its vegetable growing area, 30% of its potato and sugar beet acreage, and 20% of its vineyard area. European agriculture is declining all while the Union needs agricultural production to meet the food and non-food needs of the European Union and its partners. 

However, prolonging this trend is not inevitable. Farm Europe is therefore calling for new and innovative ways of adding value to and financing European agriculture through short-term cash flow support, investment support measures, the opening up of new markets, including for bioenergy, and innovative sources of funding that better recognize the value and role of agriculture in building a carbon-neutral economy. For specific sectors, it is urgent to establish a high-level group on wheat, mirroring the positive work carried out for the livestock sector, and to accelerate the work on water, digitalisation, and risk and crisis management. All of this should aim at building a comprehensive resilience and investment plan for EU agriculture to support a growth strategy for EU agriculture, and bring back hope in European countrysides.