GLOBE EU event “Seeds of Change: Pioneering Innovation and Collaboration for Europe’s Sustainable Food Systems”

On November 20, the GLOBE EU conference on European Food Systems was held, featuring opening remarks by acting GLOBE EU President Martin Hojsík and a keynote address by Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, Director at the European Commission’s DG-AGRI.  Their introductions set the stage for two panel discussions on transforming Europe’s agricultural landscape.  The conference underscored the importance of collaborative efforts, investment, and innovative solutions in achieving a sustainable and resilient European food system.

Martin opened by emphasizing agriculture’s crucial role within the broader European and international food systems.  He highlighted the sector’s contribution to challenges such as inequality, environmental degradation, and animal welfare, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reforms.  Advocating for a holistic approach, Martin stressed the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders — from farmers to industry leaders — to transform agriculture from being part of the problem to a pivotal part of the solution.

Catherine in her keynote address focused on the imperative of adopting a systemic approach to enhance the sustainability and resilience of European food systems.  She discussed the strategic dialogue, which gathered stakeholders to forge recommendations for sustainable food chains.  Catherine underscored the necessity for immediate actions to shift production and consumption behaviors, aiming to bolster farmer incomes while maintaining environmental integrity.  She highlighted the pivotal role of the CAP and the need for both public and private investments to support agricultural transition efforts.

The first panel explored challenges and solutions in sustainable farming practices:

Peter Meedendorp outlined the difficulties young European farmers face with sustainability reporting, advocating for a benchmarking framework that aligns stakeholder demands and rewards eco-friendly farming practices with improved market recognition.

Bart Vandewaetere discussed the investment gap in advancing sector resilience.  He introduced a benchmarking tool designed to standardize sustainability measurements and foster trustworthy investments in regenerative agriculture, supported by Nestlé’s efforts.

Dominik Klauser presented the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform’s new framework for regenerative agriculture, aiming to harmonize sustainability standards while reducing administrative burdens on farmers.

Alex Datema highlighted the successes of Rabobank’s “biodiversity monitor dairy farming, advocating for a unified sustainability benchmark to streamline data collection and incentivize sustainable farming practices.

The second panel focused on sustainable solutions for Farming & Food in Europe:

Nicu Ștefănuță discussed advances in ecological policies and the importance of supporting small farmers through strategic subsidies.  He also emphasized the need for innovative communication strategies to counter misinformation regarding agricultural innovations.

Veerle Vandeweerd stressed the need for transformative changes in agriculture, advocating for the adoption of innovative technologies like bio-fermentation to meet global food demands sustainably.

Dorothy Shaver detailed Unilever’s partnerships to drive regenerative agriculture, emphasizing the importance of involving retailers and suppliers to scale sustainable practices and achieve significant environmental outcomes.

Nicolas Verschuere described Soil Capital’s efforts to help farmers transition to sustainable practices, focusing on measurable environmental outcomes and financial incentives, aiming to expand their impact across Europe’s agricultural landscape.

Final Program

Speakers Compilation

Detailed Summary

 

December 2, 2024

GLOBE EU event: From Roadblocks to Roadmaps: Enabling Sustainable Investments in Europe

On September 24, 2024, GLOBE EU members Martin Hojsík and Bruno Tobback hosted a conference on overcoming challenges to sustainable investments. The event, co-organized with the European Investment Bank, featured a keynote address by Maive Rute, Deputy Director General of DG GROW. Panelists then examined three key obstacles highlighted in the EIB’s 2023-24 Investment Report: access to finance, skills shortages, and regulatory barriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda

Speakers’ Bios

Event Summary

 

September 30, 2024

GLOBE EU Overshoot Day 2024

Sirpa Pietikäinen, along with Heidi Hautala and Margrete Auken, hosted an event in the European Parliament’s VoxBox on April 9 to welcome high school students from the European Schools in Brussels and VIBGYOR High in Mumbai, India.

This yearly GLOBE EU gathering marks Earth Overshoot Day, which, for the European Union, falls on May 3 this year.

During the event, Sarnath, Beatrise, Petra, Brielle, Neil, and Valentina inquired about various topics, including the sustainability of fashion, climate justice, and the responsibilities of legislators.

Discussion summary

 

April 16, 2024

“Charting the Path to Sustainable Resource Management: Unveiling the 2024 Global Resources Outlook Report (GRO24)”

On March 5, GLOBE EU members Sirpa Pietikäinen, Paul Tang, Heidi Hautala, and Ville Niinistö were joined by Janez Potočnik and a host of experts to learn about the IRP’s 2024 Global Resource Outlook.

The meeting focused on the urgent need to address climate change and resource use inefficiency, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, sharing, and collective responsibility in solving global socio-ecological problems.

Participants discussed the limitations of current policies and the necessity of integrating circular economy principles, demand-side solutions, and nature-based solutions into climate action to achieve sustainable resource use and enhance human well-being.

The conversation also highlighted the need for systemic change, including institutional governance, financial incentives, and equitable resource distribution, to ensure a fair and green future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program

Summary

Presentation Janez Potocnik

Presentation Josip Pervan

Speakers’ bios

March 11, 2024

GLOBE EU event: “Navigating the Shifting Landscape: Developing Skills and Education for a Sustainable European Future”

On November 15, 2023, GLOBE EU board members Sirpa Pietikäinen and Paul Tang welcomed speakers from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the League of European Research Universities (LERU), the All European Academies (ALLEA), as well as representatives from Bee Group members Dow and Nestlé, and Microsoft and Lenovo.

During the meeting, participants discussed the integration of sustainability and digital skills into the European education system, the challenges faced, and potential solutions to support the European Green Deal and sustainable development.

Key points included:

  1. The need for a comprehensive approach to education that includes sustainability and digital skills across all levels, from early education to lifelong learning.
  2. The importance of teacher training and professional development to equip educators with the knowledge and confidence to teach sustainability and climate change topics.
  3. The role of universities in embedding sustainability into their curricula and fostering interdisciplinary approaches that include social sciences and humanities.
  4. The challenges of aligning educational content with national curricula and ensuring that sustainability topics are assessed to incentivize teaching.
  5. The potential of digital technologies, such as AI, to transform education but also the need to consider ethical implications and the environmental impact of digitalization.
  6. The significance of partnerships between educational institutions and the private sector to bridge the gap between education and industry needs.
  7. The European Commission’s Erasmus+ program’s focus on supporting green initiatives, including increasing mobility opportunities in forward-looking green domains and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders.

Overall, the meeting highlighted a collective ambition to advance sustainability and digital education but recognized the need for coordinated action, practical tools, and systemic change to achieve these goals.

Agenda

Summary

Bios participants

Presentation Emily

Presentation Andreea

Presentation Rasmus

Presentation Cliona

November 23, 2023