Von der Leyen launched a strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture - a new forum that aims to form a common vision for the future of the EU's agriculture and food system.
The strategic dialogue, announced by the President in her 2023 State of the Union address, will address the challenges and opportunities raised by participants in the dialogue, such as fair living standards for farmers and rural communities, supporting agriculture at the limits of our planet and its ecosystems, harnessing the enormous opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation and fostering a thriving future for the EU food system in a competitive world.
Professor Peter Stroschneider has been appointed chairman based on his many years of experience, in particular as chairman of the "Commission for the Future of Agriculture" of the German federal government, the EU press office announced.
The Strategic Dialogue brings together key stakeholders from across the agri-food chain, including farmers, cooperatives, agribusinesses and rural communities, as well as NGOs and civil society representatives, financial institutions and academia. After the kick-off meeting, a series of thematic meetings will be organized and will take place in the first half of 2024.
The Council and the European Parliament will be involved in the process, and the chair, Professor Stroschneider, will regularly inform and exchange views with both institutions on the dialogue.
By bringing together different perspectives, the Dialogue aims to foster the creation of new solutions and lead to a common vision for the future of the EU's agriculture and food sector by summer 2024. The Chair, in cooperation with the Dialogue's participants, will determine the exact format of the conclusions.
The Council and the European Parliament will be involved in the process, and the chair, Professor Stroschneider, will regularly inform and exchange views with both institutions on the dialogue.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the opening session: "The time has come for a new consensus on food and agriculture among farmers, rural communities and all other actors in the EU food chain. Farmers and The food industry in the EU provides our citizens with healthy, high-quality food and is a major contributor to our economy, especially in rural areas. They also make huge efforts to contribute to our overall environmental and digital transition. However, they also face facing a wide range of challenges, ranging from climate change to inflation to volatile market impacts. With this strategic dialogue, we are creating a forum to present a clear vision of the future for the benefit of all." /BGNES