The European Commission is considering, as part of the ‘Sustainable food system framework initiative‘ (1), the possibility of proposing a new framework regulation to ensure that food placed on the EU market is increasingly sustainable.
Reforming food systems through the introduction of a European Food Policy is now imperative. For the EU and its member states, with a view to bringing the EU closer to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and complying with the Paris Agreement on climate change.
European Union, the new initiative
Integrate sustainability into all food-related policies. This is the goal of the initiative launched by the European Commission, in September 2021. Identify general principles and objectives, along with requirements and responsibilities, not only within the food supply chain, ‘from farm to fork,’ but for all actors in the ‘food system.’
A horizontal framework law should therefore accelerate and facilitate the transition. Introducing new foundations for future food policies. As well as sustainability goals and principles, based on an integrated system approach. That is, to build a socially responsible food value chain that progressively reduces the environmental and climate footprint of the Union’s food system.
Therefore, the Commission envisions the possibility of introducing new regulations, in the following matters:
– Sustainable food labeling,
– Minimum criteria for sustainable public food procurement,
– governance and monitoring.
From farm to fork, the gaps
The European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, with theEU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, (2) recognized the interrelationship and shared responsibility of all actors along the supply chain, as well as the key role of farmers in providing public goods and combating climate change.
Despite the noble intent of the Farm to Fork strategy, ‘for the realization of a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system,’ the Commission had to find that, under the current system, this goal might not be achievable. For two main reasons:
1. The lack of coherence and consistency between the measures under this strategy and the Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ), Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), trade policy, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, and the strategy for achieving the ecological transition in the agrifood supply chain (3).
2. The inability of individual actions alone and in combination to ensure full policy coherence at the European and national levels, integrate sustainability, and strengthen the resilience of food systems.
‘A harmonized transformational change is needed at EU level to address the comprehensive challenges the food system is facing and achieve the climate and environmental objectives of the European Green Deal.’ (European Commission, 28.9.2021, inception impact assessment).
The new framework law should therefore act as a squaring of the circle, integrating with the different Strategies:
– Framework 2030 climate and energy strategy, (4)
– Forestry Strategy 2030,
– Strategy on Sustainable Bioeconomy for Europe,
– Biodiversity Strategy (5),
– Lastly, the new Soil Protection Strategy to 2030 (6), which in turn forms the basis for the introduction of new European rules for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of soil. In a word, agroecology.
The food and systemic crisis
Volatile food prices, persistent food insecurity, repeated food security crises, the spread of obesity, and negative impacts on climate change and environmental degradation have led to a growing awareness of the inadequacy of current modes and levels of food production and consumption.
These crises have made it clear that food system outcomes are influenced by a complex range of determinants and that national government efforts are not sufficient. Food Policies-such as the one in Milan or Rome- therefore require integrated strategies at the European level, aligning policy efforts into a concerted whole. With a shared vision of future food systems, but also the concrete identification of a combination of coherent policy instruments and sectoral objectives (7).
The transition to sustainable food systems, in a holistic view, can no longer be postponed. In the face of the need to address:
– The impacts of climate change,
– water scarcity,
– soil degradation,
– The collapse of biodiversity,
– The depletion of fish stocks,
– food waste and loss.
– chemical pollution,
– The prevalence of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)
Ad hoc measures, should therefore work toward the following goals:
– Reduce the use of chemicals,
– Protect the welfare of animals,
– alleviate poverty, including by ensuring that farmers and fishermen have a fair income,
– Ensuring the supply of healthy, safe and nutritious food,
– Reduceresource impacts, protect biodiversity and reduce emissions.
Toward a European Food Policy?
The Union food system has achieved high levels of food safety and food security. But there is currently no horizontal regulatory instrument at the Union level to act as a framework instrument, coordinating and guiding changes in all food systems and serving as an operational tool within and across sectors to improve the sustainability of the EU food system overall.
To transform the EU food system into a positive contributor to the health of people, economies and the planet, the introduction of a new legal framework applicable to all actors in the supply chain appears to be the only credible scenario.
This common basis should serve as a general integrated approach for lex specialis when addressing specific sustainability considerations, including in the context of sustainability assessment of regulated products. The new framework legislation could also include a combination of push provisions, establishing minimum requirements for food products and related operations, and pull provisions establishing incentives for food systems actors to go beyond the minimum requirements.
SAFE, an integrated food policy
SAFE – Safe Food Advocacy Europe, an NGO created with the aim of ensuring that health and consumer concerns remain at the heart of EU food legislation – contributed to the Initial Impact Assessment (IIA) of the initiative (8). Pointing the way forward: the introduction of an integrated food policy, which is necessary for four reasons:
1. Integration between policy areas. An integrated Food Policy should make different policies coherent, establish common goals, and avoid trade-offs and hidden costs, in Europe and around the world.
2. Integration between levels of governance. An integrated food policy would remove barriers to local innovation and support bottom-up experimentation in all its different forms. Encouraging social innovation in its national and local forms of expression, from sustainable school food purchasing and food policy councils to pesticide-free districts.
3. Governance for transition. Only an integrated policy with a long-term vision can drive the coordinated changes that are needed in food production, processing, distribution, and consumption to achieve the SDGs, address climate change, and other urgent global challenges.
4. Democratic decision-making process. Whether we look at CAP reform, pesticide approval or trade negotiations, the gap between what citizens want food systems to provide and what current policies are capable of delivering is wider than ever. Put a coherent food strategy at the center and bring a broader range of stakeholders around the table, making noneconomic interest groups increasingly heard. With a view to effective transparency.
Concluding reflections
The initiative for an Integrated Food Policy comes after the betrayal of sustainability goals, operated by the new post-2022 CAP. And the increasing professed support for the use of new technologies, particularly new GMOs (obtained through the so-called
New Breeding Techniques.
, 9).
The new European Food Policy, to be truly coherent, will have to make bold choices and overcome pressure from Big Food. Inaugurating a new course, for all.
Julia Tower
Notes
(2) Dario Dongo, Marina de Nobili. Farm to Fork special, the strategy presented in Brussels on 5/20/20. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 20.04.2020. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/speciale-farm-to-fork-la-strategia-presentata-a-bruxelles-il-20-5-20
(3) The lack of coherence between different policies was also manifested by the European Parliament, in its report of 20.10.21.(European Parliament resolution of 20 October 2021 on a producer-to-consumer strategy. Available at the link: https: //www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0425_IT.html
(4) Alessandra Mei, Dario Dongo. Climate and energy, EU strategy 2021-2030. Public consultation. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 23.03.2020 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/clima-ed-energia-strategia-ue-2021-2030-consultazione-pubblica
(5) Dario Dongo, Giulia Torre. Special – EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, the plan announced in Brussels. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 31/05/2020. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/speciale-strategia-ue-2030-per-la-biodiversitC3A0-il-piano-annunciato-a-bruxelles
(6) Dario Dongo. Soil protection, strategy 2030. THE ABC’S. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 06/12/2021. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/protezione-del-suolo-strategia-2030-l-abc
(7) V. L. Candel, L. Pereira (2017. Towards integrated food policy: Main challenges and steps ahead. Elsevier, p. 89-92.
(8) V. SAFE (2021). An integrated food policy. https://www. safefoodadvocacy.eu/safe-actions/an-integrated-food-policy/
(9) Dario Dongo. New GMOs serving agrotoxics. Proof of 9 in Monsanto’s new GE corn. Petition. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 04.07.2020 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/consum-attori/nuovi-ogm-a-servizio-degli-agrotossici-la-prova-del-9-nel-nuovo-mais-ge-di-monsanto-petizione
Graduated in law, master in European Food Law, she deals with agro-food, veterinary and agricultural legislation. She is a PhD in agrisystem.
