News

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COVID-19 impacts on Flemish food supply chains

This paper looks at the immediate effects of the COVID-19 crisis on various key actors from the Flemish food supply chains and identifies useful lessons for agri-food sector's resilience.

The research adopted a mixed approach, with a quantitative online survey of 718 farmers and in-depth qualitative interviews with other key actors of the food supply chain.

The findings suggest that flexibility and diversity, despite their tendency to diminish price optimums, increase resilience capacities, which may be more beneficial to systems for thriving in turbulent and uncertain environments.   

Source:
  • National stakeholders
Publication date: 
21/04/2021

How might the European bioeconomy look in 2050?

Four alternative scenarios for the EU bioeconomy in 2050 have been prepared by the Joint Research Centre with DG Research and Innovation.

Each scenario describes the world, Europe and the bioeconomy in 2050 and to what extent each scenario would contribute to the objectives of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and to selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  

Discover more about the potential of a sustainable bioeconomy to: "transform Europe’s agricultural and industrial base and create new jobs, whilst enhancing our natural resources and ecosystems."

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
16/04/2021

Scientific assessment on animal welfare during transport

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is gathering stakeholders' views for a scientific assessment on the welfare of animals during transport. Within the framework of the EU Farm to Fork strategy, EFSA’s findings will support the update of policies aimed at safeguarding the welfare of transported animals.

Potential hazards and welfare consequences of common transport practices will be examined for six groups of animals: equids (horses, donkeys); bovines (cattle and calves); small ruminants (sheep and goats); pigs; domestic birds (chickens, laying hens, turkeys etc.); and rabbits.

The consultation will remain open for eight weeks, closing on 10 June 2021.

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
16/04/2021

MEPs debate banning caged farming in the EU

MEPs debated this week a citizens’ initiative to ban the use of cages for farm animals. The public hearing was organised jointly by Parliament’s Agriculture and Petitions committees on the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age”.

Together with organisers of the initiative, Commissioners and representatives of other EU bodies, MEPs highlighted the importance of listening and acting on citizens’ concerns about animal welfare. Any potential phase-out of caged farming was seen to require proper financial support, incentives and an adequate transition period.

You can watch a video recording of this debate and also read the press release.

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
16/04/2021

EU agricultural sector performance

In 2020, the agricultural sector contributed an estimated EUR 171.9 billion towards the EU’s GDP, the equivalent of 1.3% of the total.

One way of looking at this is that for every 1 euro spent on the cost of goods and services used in the production process, the farms in the EU created added value of EUR 0.75. The total value of agricultural production in 2020 was an estimated EUR 411.8 billion, of which about half came from crops and just under two fifths from animals and animal products.

See more details about this story from Eurostat.

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
16/04/2021
LEADER project Saldus Municipality Dižprojekts 2020

LEADER project competition in Latvia

The Latvian Rural Forum organised the 10th edition of its competition 'Dižprojekts' ('The grand project'), rewarding successful LEADER projects.

The winners were selected among 29 candidate projects identified by Latvian Local Action Groups. LAGs, an expert jury and the general public nominated the winner.

The winner of 'Dižprojekts 2020' was the project the project 'Digitals tools for innovative services in Jaunauce Manor' implemented by the association Mēs-Jaunaucei in the Saldus Municipality. This project used augmented reality to make available to the public a unique art collection owned by a local noble family and disappeared during World War II. 
The second place was awarded to the project 'The development of historic tourism in Pasiekste windmill' and the third place went to the project 'Production site development of homemade cheese'. 

Source:
  • National stakeholders
Publication date: 
13/04/2021
GIZ report

Territorial approaches for sustainable development

A report by GIZ - the German international cooperation agency reviews good practices in territorial approaches to sustainable development.

This stocktaking documents good practices in  Africa, Asia and South America, describes their benefits, identifies lessons and offers recommendations for future implementation of territorial approaches. This report is written primarily for policy makers, programme
managers and practitioners who are looking for examples of successful territorial approaches and the means by which success was achieved.

Source:
  • National stakeholders
Publication date: 
13/04/2021

UNWTO Rural tourism start-up competition

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched a new competition to identify the best ideas that will help rural communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Competition aims to support rural tourism as a key tool to fight depopulation, promote inclusion and reduce regional inequalities in income and development as part of UNWTO’s special focus on tourism for rural development. The deadline for applications is 1 July 2021. Applications are now open for four categories:

  • People –Leaving no one behind
  • Planet – Building back better
  • Prosperity- opportunities for growth
  • Propulsion of Rural Tech
Source:
  • International Organisations
Publication date: 
12/04/2021
@European Commission 2021

The European Commission published recommendations for Member States, tailored to each country's agricultural sector.

The European Commission provided each EU country with tailor-made recommendations, accompanied by a communication. They aim to assist in the drafting of the national CAP strategic plans by identifying the key areas on which each EU country should focus. Based on an analysis of their agricultural sector and rural areas, the recommendations aim to ensure:

  • The achievement of the nine specific CAP objectives, touching upon environmental, social and economic challenges and a cross-cutting objective on knowledge and innovation.
  •  The compliance with Green Deal ambitions and more specifically six Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategy targets. These are quantified EU level targets on use and risk of pesticides, sales of antimicrobials, nutrient loss, area under organic farming, high diversity landscape features and access to fast broadband internet. The Commission asks Member States to determine specific national values for these targets and align their CAP strategic plans thereto.

Visit the dedicated CAP Strategic Plans webpage and scroll down to find the recommendations for your country!

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
12/04/2021
@European Commission 2021

The European Commission launches public consultation on review of the promotion policy for EU agri-food products

The European Commission launched a public consultation aiming to gather views on different policy options designed to ensure that the future EU agri-food promotion policy will support the transition to more sustainable food systems and nudge consumers to balanced diets, whilst strengthening the global competitiveness of EU farmers and agri-food businesses. In addition, the consultation will provide an opportunity to obtain feedback on different options to update the policy implementation, making it simpler and more effective for beneficiaries, implementing bodies and national authorities. The consultation is open until 23 June 2021.

The EU’s agri-food promotion policy helps its farmers and food sector to sell their products in an increasingly competitive global market. This public consultation is part of a policy review announced in the Farm to Fork strategy that will aim to enhance the promotion policy’s contribution to sustainable production and consumption, and in line with the shift to a more plant-based diet, with less red and processed meat and more fruit and vegetables.

For more information visit this webpage.

Source:
  • EU institutions
Publication date: 
12/04/2021

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