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.
