2023-05-19 Letter from the European agri-food sector to the European Commission on agricultural sustainability

A total of 31 European associations in the agri-food sector, including Fertilizers Europe, have sent a letter to the European Commission requesting greater dialogue in order to guarantee legislation that is based on sustainable agriculture.

The European agri-food sector is characterized by having a great connection between all the links in its chain, by its complexity and by its resilience in a continuous period of uncertainties. Their common goal is to continue fighting for a high level of food security, and supports the Farm to Fork strategy's goal of making our agriculture more sustainable. In this sense, this sector requests to play a more constructive and proactive role to promote the transition towards a “Framework for Sustainable Food Systems”, FSFS), and requests to intensify public-private cooperation between the Commission and the agri-food chain to guarantee this, based on science.

In this context, the agri-food sector believes that more consideration should be given to the following elements in the development of the FSFS:

- Establish a clear definition of “sustainability”, taking into account its three “legs” (social, economic and environmental) in a balanced way. Any future European definition or legislation must be based on clear, robust and up-to-date scientific data.

- Develop legislation adapted to the realities of the agri-food chain. The FSFS should provide legal certainty, clarity and a level playing field for the entire European food value chain.

- That there is more coherence between all related European legislation, with a multidisciplinary approach, which will help guarantee a long-term strategy and avoid incoherence or duplication with other existing legislation.

- Allow the active collaboration of the entire agri-food sector in the preparation and implementation of the FSFS, with greater clarity on the management of the European Commission in this initiative.

- That greater value be given to food security within sustainable food systems. Any sustainable food system must also ensure food security (including availability, affordability and accessibility of food), and nutritional security.

- Take more into account trade and the international dimension of sustainability.

- Realistically review the potential costs of the measures planned under the FSFS.

- Recognize to a greater extent the diversity of all actors in the food chain in their contribution to sustainability, so that they can adapt to their realities, taking into account the diversity of processes and products.



Link to the letter from the European agri-food sector: https://www.fertilizerseurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Letter-Farm-to-Fork-12-May-2023.pdf