Shaping the Future – A Vision for Agriculture and Food

In February 2025, the European Commission presented its A vision for agriculture and food.

Recognising the vital role that farmers play in our lives, this vision aims to create the conditions to ensure that the agri-food sector thrives, innovates and continue to bring benefits to society today, tomorrow and in 2040.

The European Commission has identified four areas of action for implementing this strategy:

1. building an attractive agri-food sector;
2. to promote a competitive and resilient sector;
3. to create the conditions for a future-proof sector;
4. to promote fair living and working conditions in dynamic rural areas and to remain a world leader in food innovation.

Each of these areas identifies specific areas of intervention:

Area 1: review the rules on unfair commercial practices and of the Regulation on the common organisation of the markets (CMO); to propose a fairer, simpler and more targeted common agricultural policy; strengthen the EU Agri-Food Supply Chain Observatory; to set out a strategy for the bioeconomy; draw up an ambitious investment programme; develop a strategy for generational renewal; set up an EU observatory on agricultural land.

Area 2: to establish new partnership dialogues on agri-food policy; to simplify the administrative burden on farmers and food businesses; to develop a plan to tackle the challenges of protein supply; to work towards greater alignment of the production standards applied to imported products; to review the legislation on animal welfare; to develop an ambitious, unified safety net for the EU’s agri-food sector; to call for a European approach to risk and crisis management; to adopt a climate change adaptation plan; to launch a long-term strategy for livestock farms.

Area 3: a new strategic approach to research and innovation; to offer a’voluntary benchmarking for corporate sustainability; propose a strategy for water resilience; accelerate access to biopesticides; provide incentives through carbon removal and carbon farming; launch an EU digital strategy for agriculture.

Area 4: update the EU’s rural action plan and strengthen the Rural Pact; establish a platform for women in agriculture; hold food dialogues with stakeholders in the food system; strengthen the role of public procurement; develop short supply chains; review the EU school programme; to raise consumer awareness through promotional policy; to further promote the use of Geographical Indications.

In particular, as part of the second area of action identified (“promoting a competitive and resilient sector”), the Commission proposes, amongst other measures, the review of animal welfare legislation, the launch of a long-term strategy for the livestock sector, and the development of a plan to address the challenges relating to protein supply.