In the summer months, genomic techniques have been the centre of some quite debates: amongst others, the US Department of Agriculture proposed to exempt some gene edited plant varieties from the biotechnology law; a study has analysed how these technologies are perceived by the public, concluding that the purpose for which are used plays an […]
The Green Energy Platform (GEP) welcomes the level of ambition and the fact that renewable energy from EU agriculture (i.e. biofuels & biomethane) is recognised as an essential lever for achieving the objectives of the draft « Fit for 55 » package, in particular for transport, which is the most challenging sector to decarbonise. However, […]
In June the agriculture Committee in the European Parliament discussed the Commission’s study on New Genomic Techniques for which many MEPs showed their support. Also, in Germany, the main political parties exposed their political manifestos and took public position on the matter of NGTs. Scientists from Freibourg University pioneered a method that allows for the […]
After the ‘Nestlégate’, which saw the Swiss food multinational admitting that a big majority of its products cannot be considered “healthy”, the UK is taking further steps in limiting the advertisement of unhealthy foods to children, and a pilot project for eco-label is planned to take off in the autumn, in France. Yuka, the food-shop […]
During the last decades, the European wine sector has been able to keep up with the increasing competition both in the domestic and in the world’s markets. It built its strategy on enhanced quality & productivity, while meeting higher environmental and sustainability standards which were becoming an always more important aspect of the product. In […]
Farm Europe welcomes the agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy reached today. It preserves the common dimension of this policy and it provides the means to give impetus to a real economic and environmental ambition, clearly improving the European Commission’s initial proposal.The tireless work of the Portuguese Presidency, of long-established MEPs such […]
The month of May 2021 was marked by repeated calls for aid measures from countries affected by the frosts in March and April. In particular Italy, France and Greece asked the European Commission for appropriate aid. Moreover, the Council of Ministers outlined a proposal (as part of the CAP reform) envisaging the authorisation of the […]
In May 2021, at European level, AGRI MEPs have voted for a resolution, backing the phasing out of cages in livestock farming; the EU approved insects for human consumption for the first time; and Germany calls for a mandatory labelling of egg products in the EU. On national level, Germany decides to ban the killing […]
The second SuperTrilogue at the end of May was supposed to bring together the co-legislators on the open points of discussion in the CAP negotiations. However, positions on fundamental points (green architecture, crisis reserve, social conditionality, etc.) were too far apart. Now, the Presidency of the Council foresees a deal for the end of next […]
During May 2021, the Spanish Parliament postponed the introduction of mandatory FOPL until a decision is taken at the EU level, while Germany released its 2021 nutrition report. In the UK, multinational Kellogg committed to reduce its products’ sugar content in the European market while a law that restricts the promotion of junk food has […]