Understanding The EU’s 2040 Vision For Agriculture And Food

Published on 19 February, the European Commission’s highly-anticipated Vision for the Future of EU Agriculture and Food, sets an ambitious perspective and roadmap for Europe’s agri-food system towards 2040 and beyond. To a certain extent, the Vision is a legacy of the Farm-to-Fork strategy, in that it outlines the future of the EU agri-food industry, but does so in quite a different way, establishing a new approach and outlook for the sector.

As EU organisations in the agri-food space navigate an increasingly dynamic regulatory and market environment, understanding the Vision’s context, key goals, and implementation plans is crucial to remaining competitive. In this article, we delve into the Vision’s foundation and core objectives, the initiatives designed to achieve them, and offer expert insights to help businesses thrive in the face of the coming changes.

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An Overview of The EU’s 2040 Agri-Food Vision and Its Background

The EU 2040 Vision for Agriculture and Food represents a significant shift in the way Europe approaches its agri-food system. It is built on the outcomes of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture initiated by President Ursula von der Leyen in 2024, which was created to discuss the contentious issues that led to widespread farmers’ protests across the EU. These discussions laid bare the need for a balanced strategy that goes beyond the environmental and climate focus of previous policies.

While the Vision builds on the foundations of the Farm-to-Fork strategy, it also marks a departure by placing greater emphasis on competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and the financial viability of farmers. Moving away from the majoritarily environmental and climate objectives set by Farm-to-Fork in the previous mandate – on many of which, such as pesticides and food labelling, no progress was achieved – it seeks to ensure that farmers’ incomes and the sector’s overall resilience stay at the forefront. Notably, the consumer side of the agri-food system remains untouched by the Vision.

Another noteworthy aspect of the Vision is its commitment to simplification. Over recent months, simplification has emerged as a buzzword in Brussels, and in line with the EU Omnibus Simplification Package, a targeted simplification package for the agricultural legislative framework is also expected by the second quarter of this year, as per the Commission’s 2025 Work Programme.

Interestingly, while the Farm-to-Fork strategy has been led by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, the Vision is owned by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, under Commissioner Hansen. With the new Vision, the Commissioner promises a more participatory approach that will encompass the entire value chain — within and beyond the EU’s borders — to address many of agri-food’s pressing issues.

The European Board on Agriculture and Food will be providing strategic advice to the Commission, and Annual Youth Policy Dialogues will also be held to bring young citizens and farmers into the discussion, and ensure that the future generation’s voice is heard.

What The Future of EU Agri-food Should Look Like

The EU outlines a four-pronged vision for the future of its agri-food system:

1. Attractiveness and Predictability: An agri-food sector where incomes are sustainable and enable farmers to thrive, attracting future generations that will continue producing food that meets consumer demands and remains affordable.
2. Competitiveness and Resilience: As global competition intensifies, the Vision underscores the need for an agri-food system that is competitive and can withstand global competition and shocks.
3. Sustainability within Planetary Boundaries: A future proof agri-food sector that is functioning within planetary boundaries, where farming contributes to removing greenhouse gases.
4. Social and Rural Development: An agri-food sector that values food, but also fosters fair working and living conditions, and vibrant and well-connected rural and coastal areas.

Making it Happen: How The EU Plans to Realise its Vision

Translating this ambitious vision into reality involves a series of legislative and non-legislative initiatives designed to reform and modernise the agri-food sector, so let’s have a look at the most noteworthy ones.

Legislative Changes

Revision of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive: This revision is set to ensure that farmers are no longer forced to sell their products below production costs, safeguarding their financial sustainability.

New Agri-food Chain Observatory (AFCO): AFCO will monitor and publish indicators related to price formation in the food chain, offering transparency and data-driven insights that can inform future policy adjustments.

Revised Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): Moving from a system of “conditions to incentives,” the CAP, EU’s farming subsidy programme, will be simplified and more targeted. A proposal for the revision is expected to be presented by the Commission this summer, streamlining the rewards for ecosystem services provided by farmers, and making the subsidy system as a whole fairer and more efficient.

Animal Welfare and Protein Plans: The Vision includes a targeted review of animal welfare legislation alongside the development of a new protein plan which, among other aspects, should address the bloc’s dependencies on protein imports.

Fast-Track Approvals for Biopesticides: With a legislative proposal expected still in 2025, the Commission is working to ensure that farmers have quicker access to biopesticides while maintaining a balanced approach to chemical use. Notably, the Vision promises not to ban chemicals if reasonable alternatives are not available.

Innovation & Environmental Initiatives

Stimulating Innovation: The Vision encourages practices focused on circularity, agroecology and bioeconomy across the food supply chain, and includes a new Bioeconomy Strategy — due by the end of 2025 — to help position the EU as a global leader in sustainable bio-based industries.

Carbon Removals and Nature Credits: The Commission promises to speedily develop and introduce nature credits – units of nature-positive actions, representing quantified and certified high-quality nature-positive outcomes. It has also developed its voluntary Carbon Removal Certification Framework, for certifying carbon removals, farming and storage, which can represent an important source of additional income for farmers.

Strategic Recommendations for the EU Agri-food Sector

With numerous legislative and non-legislative initiatives in the Vision impacting the agri-food sector, we recommend organisations to start identifying their key priorities and engaging with the EU to ensure that upcoming measures are ambitious but also feasible and suitable to their realities on the ground.

Many aspects of the Vision remain intentionally broad and will need to be refined as further consultations and policy developments unfold. This means that, in addition to reviewing their current operations and determining the areas where strategic adjustments would be beneficial, businesses should also be actively monitoring the legislative landscape for upcoming changes in agri-food policies.

Key Takeaways

The Vision for 2040 sets a comprehensive framework for the agri-food sector, although, to a certain extent, it is currently lacking on the consumer part. It includes multiple components focusing on process simplification, creating more resilience for farmers and the sector as a whole, while building a strategic autonomy for the EU in food and sustainability.

The road to 2040 is just beginning, and for EU-based businesses, this is the time to establish priorities, and develop a strategic course of action. So if you would like to not only successfully adapt but also thrive in the new era of European agri-food, get in touch! We have a team of specialised consultants prepared to guide you through this evolving policy landscape, and place your organisation at the forefront of this exciting transition.

Want someone with deep experience and connections in the EU to help guide your sustainability strategy? Get in touch!

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