Close-up, crop for processing and storing grain.
The European Commission presented concrete measures to the EU bloc to ensure food security and food independence following the conflict in Ukraine. The new measures included in the Safeguarding food security, and strengthening the resilience of food systemsPlan, the Commission proposed an additional crisis reserve of $550 million to member countries, the support for the pork sector, as well as a waiver to the greening obligations within agriculture sector countries should make every effort to comply with.
Russia’s invasion in Ukraine has put the issue of food security at the forefront of European political discourse. The EU’s farming sector is heavily dependent on imports from Russia and Ukraine for food, feed, fertilizers, energy, and other necessities.
One-fourth of European wheat is from Ukraine. The European Union had hoped that sunflower and corn would be planted in the coming weeks. However, the conflict has impeded the harvest. To avoid any future shortages, the European Commission proposed to incentivize spring wheat planting within its member states.
Similar to the COVID crisis, these measures were deemed temporary to help the agriculture sector. However, EU officials assured that they wouldn’t compromise the EU’s flagship food policy, Farm to Fork, and that they wont harm the environment goals.
However, national Agriculture ministers raised concerns with the European Commission during a meeting. They stated that while it was difficult to feed their population affordably, they also had to meet the EU’s environmental targets.
The EU goal to reduce the use and risk from chemical pesticides by half and fertilizers by a quarter by 2030 was a major point of contention for representatives of national governments. Today’s revision of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive by the European Commission was to be published. It was intended to regulate pesticides and better align it with the Farm to Fork strategy. In February, leaked drafts of Directive revealed that the Commission was planning to publish an update. EU-wide, binding pesticide reduction target of 50% by 2030The member states could set their respective national targets.
Representatives of the Polish and Slovenian national governments insisted that the introduction alternative and sustainable practices as well as reduction targets were too ambitious, especially considering the crisis.
According to several The narrative of food scarcity that NGOs are promoting, which is supported by the agrifood industry, is a delay tactic to stop the EU Farm to Fork or Biodiversity Strategies. Despite what they want to make us believe, prioritizing greater food production will only deepen our environmental damage, increase our dependence on fossil fuels, and threaten long-term food security. We already produce enough food. The issue is where it is going and how people can afford it,” Clara Bourgin, Friends of the Earth Europe’s food and farming campaigner, said.
Organisations of civil society So calledOn the European Union to not derail the EU Farm to Fork or Biodiversity strategies, warning about the possibility of years of toxic inaction. The current way we farm is not resilient to climate shocks or economic shocks, stated Celia Nyssen, Policy Officer Agriculture at European Environmental Bureau. She recalled the severe drought of 2020 and the devastating flooding of 2021 which also put pressure on European farmers.
The European Commission analysis indicates that European consumers won’t have to deal with food shortages, but it should be expected for feeds for the industrial pig sector. The pig meat sector constitutes8.5% of EU agricultural output goes to Germany, while Spain, France and Germany contribute more than half the EU’s total pig meat production. Today, the Commission approved safety-net measures to support pig meat markets in light of the extremely difficult sector. Nyssen said that these measures will only inject millions into the livestock sector to maintain the EU’s trade balance.
Stella Kyriakides, EU commissioner for health and food safety, stated that there was a need to reduce EU dependence on inputs like pesticides and fertilizers. The indefinite postponement of Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive is seen by NGOs as a warning sign. The European Parliament will also be discussing the issue regarding food security during the current plenary session. They hope to adopt a solution. Joint resolutionOn Thursday, 24 March, some political groups have already proposed to remove environmental goals from the agricultural policies.
