The month of February was marked by debates in the European Parliament on wine consumption. The European Parliament’s rejection of rapporteur BECA’s proposal equating excessive alcohol consumption with moderate wine consumption is noteworthy, while there is growing concern about the international situation. The war between Ukraine and Russia threatens the wine sector, especially in Spain, […]
During the Plenary session of the European Parliament of February the House voted and approved the amended report on the EU Beating Cancer Plan: it considers all the steps of the diseases and the influence that diet and lifestyle have on health. In a presentation, Italian ministers for Health, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs formally presented […]
Carbon Farming was one of the topics discussed by the Agri Committee during this month. Even if in agreement with the propositions of the Commission, MEPs raised their concerns over the methodology that would be used to put in place the certification system, how this system will be financed, how to monitor it, and the […]
Some MEPs have sent a letter to the Commission ahead of the publishing of draft regulation on plants varieties obtained thanks to new genomic techniques, calling for further research and attention to safety. The 31 elected representatives asked the Commission to analyse in more details the risks related to new genomic techniques, pointing out that […]
The proper treatment of farm animals is increasingly important to consumers, which is reflected in the desire to ban long transports and the transport of newborns. As a result, European livestock production (dairy and beef herds) is expected to decrease in the future – in line with European dietary trends, visible through the appeal of […]
January marks the beginning of the six months rotating presidency of the Council for France. French Minister for agriculture exposed its priorities on the legislative initiatives, namely the advancement of the reciprocity clauses in international trade, the sustainable use of pesticides, and the initiative on carbon cycles. Wageningen University published a second study on the […]
The beginning of 2022 marks the occasion to look back 2021 and see that the global wine trade has reached its highest ever figure, with France consolidating its position as the world’s largest supplier by value, despite sales volumes significantly lower than those of Spain and Italy. Total champagne sales for 2021 are also expected […]
A study from UNICEF finds that children in the world are not fed correctly, calling for joint action on nutrition policy coordination. At the same time, statistics from the EU reveal that Europeans do not reach the recommended portions of fruit and vegetable daily. More evidence on the importance of a healthy diet show the […]
More and more crops that have been genetically modified are being approved for field experimentation, such as lettuce, rice, maize. Whereas in the UK political declaration are pointing at the direction of a more relax legislative environment for gene editing, in China, public authorities are about to draft new rules to ease the application and […]
Rising production costs for all agricultural sectors, particularly livestock, are a concern. Many sectors are demanding higher producer prices and improved farm incomes. Opportunities have developed for some UK livestock sectors as a result of Brexit. In Ireland, however, the vote by MEPs to ban the transport of very young animals is described as a […]