A Private and Skilled Dedication to Agriculture
In a robust handle at one among Europe’s largest agricultural and meals coverage boards, Commissioner Christophe Hansen shared his private {and professional} dedication to shaping the way forward for European agriculture. Drawing on his roots as a farmer from northern Luxembourg, Hansen highlighted how his upbringing and experiences drive his resolve to create insurance policies that empower farmers, help rural communities, and safe the EU’s meals provide for generations to return.
Chatting with a various viewers of farmers, business leaders, NGOs, customers, and policymakers, Hansen emphasised the necessity for a collaborative, inclusive strategy to agricultural coverage. “For me,” he stated, “there isn’t any higher solution to begin my second week than right here with you on the greatest occasion for agriculture and meals in Europe.”
The Challenges Going through European Agriculture
Commissioner Hansen addressed the myriad challenges confronting the sector:
- Ageing Farming Demographics: Solely 12% of EU farmers are beneath the age of 40, with a mean age of 57. Girls account for simply 3% of the farming workforce, underscoring the necessity for focused initiatives to draw and retain various expertise in agriculture.
- Financial Pressures: Structural challenges, together with declining farm numbers, financial disparities, and an administrative burden that overwhelms many, contribute to farming being perceived as a high-risk, anxious occupation.
- Geopolitical and Environmental Pressures: World tensions, local weather change, and biodiversity loss are inserting unprecedented pressure on the sector, whereas demanding innovation and resilience from farmers.
Regardless of these obstacles, Hansen expressed deep admiration for the resilience of European farmers, calling for a united effort to capitalize on alternatives whereas addressing these urgent points.
Commissioner Hansen’s Imaginative and prescient: A Roadmap for the Future
Hansen introduced a forward-looking imaginative and prescient for a aggressive, sustainable, and resilient agricultural sector. He outlined a number of priorities:
- Generational Renewal and Demographic Stability
Hansen highlighted the pressing want to draw younger farmers by making certain entry to important sources, reminiscent of fertile soil, land, capital, and know-how. He emphasised enhancing rural infrastructure—reminiscent of broadband web—and making certain rural communities have the identical alternatives and companies as city areas.“With out creating the appropriate circumstances, we danger dropping the following era of farmers,” he warned, including that fostering household farming and supporting younger entrants should be central tenets of EU agricultural coverage. - Simplification of Rules
Hansen introduced plans to cut back administrative burdens for farmers, emphasizing the significance of sensible, actionable measures. He referenced a 2025 simplification bundle aimed toward easing compliance for small-scale farmers, together with farms beneath 10 hectares, as a part of broader reforms for 2027. - Equity and Worth within the Meals Provide Chain
Stressing the significance of equity, Hansen known as for reforms to strengthen farmers’ bargaining positions and guarantee equitable compensation. He underscored the necessity to rectify imbalances within the meals chain and promote producer organizations to raised place farmers in negotiations with retailers. - Funding in Innovation and Sustainability
Hansen recognized bridging the sector’s funding hole as a important step towards driving innovation. He pointed to the necessity for analysis and know-how that allow sustainable farming practices whereas addressing local weather change and biodiversity objectives.
Strengthening World Competitiveness and Commerce
Commissioner Hansen acknowledged that European agriculture is deeply interconnected with international commerce. He highlighted the sector’s 2023 export success, valued at €230 billion, which created a €70 billion commerce surplus. Nevertheless, he emphasised the significance of reciprocity in commerce, advocating for rules that guarantee imported items meet the EU’s excessive environmental and moral requirements.
Hansen cited the EU’s deforestation regulation and restrictions on pesticide-treated imports as key examples of making certain equity whereas sustaining the EU’s aggressive edge.
Local weather and Environmental Objectives
Acknowledging that farmers are each victims of and important gamers in combating local weather change, Hansen pressured the significance of incentivizing sustainable practices. “We have to develop instruments to adapt and deploy innovation on the bottom,” he stated, rejecting top-down mandates in favor of tailor-made options.
He praised the EU’s Frequent Agricultural Coverage (CAP) for its contributions to stability and meals safety over the previous 60 years however pressured the necessity for reforms that stability predictability and adaptability. The CAP, he argued, should proceed evolving to fulfill trendy challenges whereas preserving its foundational strengths.
Collaborative Motion for a Sustainable Future
To information these efforts, Hansen introduced the institution of the European Board on Agriculture and Meals, inviting acknowledged organizations to affix this platform for dialogue and collaboration. He expressed his dedication to foster constructive exchanges amongst all stakeholders to form insurance policies that mirror shared values and aspirations.
Closing his speech, Hansen spoke with heartfelt optimism about the way forward for European agriculture: “I wish to create a greater atmosphere for our youngsters and the following era. This may solely be achieved if all actors work collectively. We wish to ship wholesome meals, a wholesome atmosphere, and a sustainable livelihood for the following era of farmers.”
