The European Green Deal (EU Green Deal) is a recognition by Europe as a continent to tackle climate change and environmental damage or ‘degradation’ as it is termed. It is a cornerstone policy of the European Union. This Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The EU Commission’s Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy is at the heart of the Green Deal and I will outline exactly what this is in this article. First however, we need to establish why the Green Deal exists in the first place.
President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen says:-
“The European Green Deal is our new growth strategy – for a growth that gives back more than it takes away. It shows how to transform our way of living and working, of producing and consuming so that we live healthier and make our businesses innovative. We can all be involved in the transition and we can all benefit from the opportunities. We will help our economy to be a global leader by moving first and moving fast. We are determined to succeed for the sake of this planet and life on it – for Europe’s natural heritage, for biodiversity, for our forests and our seas. By showing the rest of the world how to be sustainable and competitive, we can convince other countries to move with us.‘
It is driving plenty of innovation across numerous categories and not only food. We have energy, transport, agriculture, buildings and industries producing steel, textiles, chemicals and many other materials that impact the environment. Food production comes under agriculture.
Making the objectives demands plenty of funding. Many of the new innovative projects that require funding are tapping into this notion.
The Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F)
The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy is a comprehensive plan launched in 2020 that aims to make the European food system more sustainable and resilient. The strategy is part of the European Green Deal, a broader initiative to promote a more sustainable and climate-neutral Europe.
The Farm to Fork Strategy sets out a range of targets and actions aimed at reducing the environmental and health impact of the food system, while ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities. The strategy includes targets to reduce the use of pesticides and antibiotics, increase organic farming, and reduce food waste.
The strategy also aims to improve the nutritional quality of food, promote sustainable food production and consumption, and reduce the environmental impact of food production and distribution. It recognizes that the food system is interconnected with other sectors, such as health, biodiversity, and climate change, and seeks to promote a more integrated and holistic approach to food policy.
The Farm to Fork Strategy includes a range of specific measures, such as promoting sustainable farming practices, supporting local food systems, and improving food labelling and transparency. It also includes measures to reduce food waste, promote healthy diets, and address social and economic inequalities in the food system.
The Farm to Fork Strategy is a key element of the EU’s efforts to achieve a sustainable and resilient food system that supports human health, biodiversity, and the environment. It is being implemented through a range of policies and initiatives, including the Common Agricultural Policy, food safety regulations, and research and innovation programs.
In summary, the strategy aims to accelerate our transition top a sustainable food system that should:
- Have a neutral or positive environmental impact.
- Help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts.
- Reverse the loss of biodiversity
- Offer regulatory initiatives to follow in the next 5 years.
There are four main areas of food policy to look at and each has equal priority.
- Food loss and waste prevention
- Sustainable food production
- Sustainable food processing & distribution
- Sustainable food consumption
The Four Strategic Goals are:
- Stronger food security
- Better nutrition
- Improved public health
- Sustainable food production
From a regulatory viewpoint, by 2022 we have seen two pieces of legislation introduced. The first was the Sustainable Use Directive and the second was the Food Contact Material Regulation.
The Sustainable Use Directive
The EU’s Sustainable Use Directive (SUD), also known as Directive 2009/128/EC, is a European Union law that aims to promote the sustainable use of pesticides and reduce the risks and negative effects of pesticide use on human health, the environment, and non-target organisms.
The SUD requires EU member states to establish national action plans to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use, and to promote the use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. IPM is a pest control approach that emphasizes the use of a combination of methods, such as crop rotation, biological control, and cultural practices, to reduce pest populations and minimize the use of pesticides.
The SUD also sets out specific requirements for the training and certification of pesticide users and the authorization of pesticides. It aims to ensure that pesticides are used only when necessary and in a way that minimizes their impact on human health and the environment.
The SUD was adopted in 2009 and has since been implemented in all EU member states. Its ultimate goal is to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides and reduce the risks associated with their use, while ensuring the availability of safe and effective plant protection products to meet the needs of European agriculture.
Food Contact Material Regulations
The EU’s Food Contact Material (FCM) Regulations are a set of rules and standards that apply to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. These regulations aim to ensure that FCMs do not pose a risk to human health and that they do not lead to food contamination.
The FCM regulations set out specific requirements for FCMs, including the types of substances that can be used in FCMs, the maximum levels of these substances that are allowed, and the testing and documentation requirements for FCMs.
Under the regulations, FCMs must undergo rigorous safety evaluations to ensure that they do not pose a risk to human health. This includes testing for substances that are known to be harmful or have the potential to migrate from the material into food.
The FCM regulations also require manufacturers to maintain strict documentation and traceability of their FCMs. This includes providing information on the materials used, the manufacturing processes, and the intended uses of the FCMs.
The FCM regulations apply to all materials and articles that come into contact with food, including packaging materials, kitchen utensils, and processing equipment. They are enforced by the national authorities of the EU member states.
Overall, the EU’s FCM regulations aim to protect consumers by ensuring that materials and articles that come into contact with food are safe and do not pose a risk to human health.
What Happens In 2023?
The European Union is to set targets for waste reduction. It will also revise animal welfare legislation and introduce new regulations on FIC Regulation. This will be (1) front of pack labelling, (2) nutrient profiles, (3) date marking and (4) origin or provenance indications.
What Happens In 2024?
The EU intends to introduce the Sustainable Food Labelling Framework and the Sustainable Food Systems Framework.
The Sustainable Food Labelling Framework
The EU’s Sustainable Food Labelling Framework is a proposed initiative that aims to provide consumers with information about the sustainability of the food they buy. The framework would establish a set of sustainability criteria and labels that would be applied to food products sold in the EU.
The proposed framework would take into account a range of sustainability factors, including the environmental impact of food production, animal welfare, and social and economic considerations. It would use a set of sustainability indicators and criteria to evaluate the sustainability of different food products and assign them a sustainability rating or label.
The proposed labels would be voluntary and could take a variety of forms, such as a traffic light system or a set of symbols indicating different levels of sustainability. The aim of the labels is to provide consumers with clear, easily understandable information about the sustainability of the food they buy, and to encourage the food industry to adopt more sustainable practices.
The development of the Sustainable Food Labelling Framework is ongoing, and it is not yet clear when or if it will be implemented. The year 2024 is considered the most likely date. The initiative is however part of a wider effort by the EU to promote sustainable food production and consumption and to move towards a more sustainable food system.
The Sustainable Food Systems Framework
The EU’s Sustainable Food Systems Framework is a proposed initiative that aims to promote sustainable food systems in the European Union. The framework would provide a set of guidelines and recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to create a more sustainable and resilient food system.
The proposed framework takes a holistic approach to food systems, recognizing that food production, distribution, consumption, and waste management are interconnected and must be addressed together to achieve sustainable outcomes. It would promote sustainable agricultural practices, support local food systems, and reduce food waste and loss.
The framework would also focus on improving the nutritional quality of food, promoting healthy and sustainable diets, and addressing social and economic inequalities in the food system. It would encourage collaboration between different sectors and stakeholders to achieve shared goals and address complex challenges.
The development of the Sustainable Food Systems Framework is ongoing, and it is not yet clear when or whether it will be implemented either. However, this particular initiative is part of a broader effort by the EU to transition towards a more sustainable and equitable food system that supports human health, biodiversity, and the environment.
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