In a position paper on the EU "Farm to Fork" Strategy the Ecologic Institute, the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) submitted a contribution to the EU Commission's roadmap consultation on the Farm to Fork strategy.

As part of the EU's Green Deal the Farm to Fork Strategy will set out the regulatory and non-regulatory measures needed to create more efficient, climate-smart systems that provide healthy food. Among others, it will identify measures, needed to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides, as well as the use of fertilisers and antibiotics.  It's the first time, that production and consumption as well as sustainability, health and living conditions for EU farmers and fishermen are brought into a common strategy. The strategy is expected to be finalized until 29 April 2020 and will have an impact on the future Common agricultural policy.

While the strategy itself has not been up for consultation, the EU Commission issued a public consultation on the Farm to Fork Strategy roadmap. The consultation closed on March 20 and received over 650 contributions.

The position paper [pdf, 0.8 MB, English] was produced by Think Sustainable Europe, a newly established network of sustainability think tanks. Think Sustainable Europe is so far composed of IEEP, SEI, Ecologic Institute, TMG and IDDRI.

Key points of the position paper and identified needs for the strategy are:

• adaptation of governance structures in order to achieve a greater coherence in EU policies around food, health, agriculture and biodiversity,
• clear definitions of targets and indicators,
• the set up participatory processes from regional to European levels,
• improved farm advisory services and
• using research and innovation as drivers for the transition.

It gives policy recommendations about

• sustainable and healthy diets,
• building regional supply chains,
• needed practices along the whole of the supply chain,
• strengthening transparency of commodity trade,
• promoting the circular use of nutrients to protect biodiversity and increase resource efficiency,
• making Wetlands restoration and stewardship an integral part of the Farm to fork Strategy and
• making the CAP a key tool of the Farm to Fork strategy.