The CoR calls for full consistency of the EU's strategy
with the Common Agricultural Policy
and the Green Deal's objectives
The COVID-19 pandemic showed up the deep
interrelations between public health, ecosystems
and food systems. In an opinion drafted by Guido
Milana (IT/PES) and adopted by the plenary of the
European Committee of the Regions (CoR), local and
regional leaders
welcome the "Farm to Fork" strategy but call for a
greater emphasis on
short supply chains and on local and regional forms
of production, based on animal and environmental
well-being, and nutritional quality.
The Farm to Fork strategy for sustainable food
is a pillar both of the European Green Deal – a
flagship initiative of the EU – and of the EU's
recovery plan. The strategy was presented on 20 May
2020 by the European Commission and it will cover every
link in the food chain, from production to consumption.
It aims to build a sustainable food system in the EU
that safeguards food security and protects people’s
health and the environment.
Through the opinion
From farm to fork – the local and regional
dimension
, drafted by
Guido Milana
(IT/PES), municipal councillor from Olevano Romano
Municipal Council (Rome) and former Member of the
European Parliament, the CoR highlights that it is
essential that Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) post 2020 are fully
aligned with the objectives of the Farm to Fork
strategy and
Biodiversity for 2030
targets.
"
The Farm to Fork Strategy can help to bring access
to food - a basic but fundamental issue – back to
the heart of the political debate. The pandemic has
actually increased inequalities and we need to make
food systems more equitable and sustainable.
However, the lack of ambition in the CAP review
risks putting everything at risk and we regret this
lack of coherence
" said the rapporteur Milana.
The CoR supports the Farm to Fork strategy and the
targets put forward by the Commission on the reduction
of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and antimicrobials
as well as on the increase of organic farming. In
addition, the CoR calls for thorough impact assessment
of the quantified targets and for the monitoring of the
progress achieved.
To bring forward local and regional dimension, the CoR
points out that food public procurement is one of the
key element to make the transformation to sustainable
food system happen at local and regional level. Public
authorities' purchasing power represents 14% of EU GDP.
Therefore, public procurement can serve as a powerful
driver of the demand for sustainable products. The
institutional demand is important for increasing the
use of sustainable food and for opening up market
opportunities for small suppliers.
Regions and cities can act as key players in the
transition to more sustainable food system. As such,
they need to be involved in the implementation and
monitoring of the Strategy. To better take into account
their needs, regional authorities should be able to
continue performing their role as managing authorities
and be involved in designing of the eco-schemes at both
European and national level.
Read the interview
with Guido Milana, rapporteur on the Farm to Fork
strategy
Contacts:
Matteo Miglietta
Tel. +32 470 895 382
matteo.miglietta@cor.europa.eu
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