Food chain sustainability

Agriculture ‘core area’ for EU’s 2040 climate targets – Commission report

By 2040, the EU's agricultural sector should be able to cut non-CO2 emissions by at least 30% compared to 2015 levels, with livestock and fertiliser use key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a draft communication on the 2040 EU climate target states. 

EU Parliament calls for looser environmental rules in Common Fisheries Policy reform

The European Parliament voted on Thursday (18 January) in favour of two own-initiative reports on EU fisheries pushed by the conservative EPP, which drop some environmental bans and focus on fleet competitiveness, effectively calling for a reform of the bloc's Common Fisheries Policy.

Von der Leyen will start strategic dialogue with food sector on 25 January

Thirty European food chain organisations covering the entire chain have received an official invitation for a strategic dialogue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 25 January, industry sources told Euractiv.

‘Carbon neutral’ food claims challenged under new Commission rules

Food companies will be forced to justify claims such as carbon neutral under newly proposed plans from the European Commission as criticisms mount over the ‘rampant’ greenwashing found on supermarket shelves - but farmers warn plans must be fine-tuned for the specificities of the food sector.

Stakeholders clash over environmental impact, viability of EU packaging law

With the EU's new packaging law open to lawmakers' opinions, farmers and industry are questioning the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the proposal while green groups warn against a 'zero-sum approach' to the matter.

EU’s packaging law – What’s next?

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After the much-awaited proposal on the EU packaging and packaging waste directive (PPWD), the ball is in the court of EU lawmakers’ who are now called to tie up loose ends and tweak the draft law.

NGOs urge EU to oppose plans for world’s first octopus farm

The European Union should oppose what could become the world's first octopus farm, two organisations said after plans for what they have termed a 'cruel' project to be located in the Canary Islands were announced.

Belgian region ends force-feeding as last foie gras farm closes

The Flemish region of Belgium, Flanders, will no longer force-feed animals to produce foie gras as the region after its last foie gras production plant closed at the start of 2023.

China lifts ban on Irish beef imports, reopening multimillion-euro market

China has lifted its 2020 ban on the import of Irish beef, putting the longstanding issue to rest and reopening a multimillion-euro market for Irish farmers.

German minister wants to decriminalise dumpster diving

To tackle the problem of food waste, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is looking to decriminalise the practice of rescuing food from rubbish containers, including outside supermarkets, called dumpster diving.

‘Enjoy, it’s from Europe’: Brussels announces fresh agri-food promotion plan

The European Commission presented its annual working plan to help agri-food producers promote their products in the EU and abroad, with a focus on sustainability, quality, animal welfare, and healthy eating habits.

EU’s global push on food sustainability standards raises hackles in third countries

The EU’s ambition to hold third countries' food imports to its own sustainability standards has been met with consternation as stakeholders sounded the alarm in key trading partners, including Brazil and the US.

The innovation factor in a global sustainable food supply chain

International partnerships around the use of new farming technologies, on par with common trade standards, can play a role in making global food production more sustainable. The recent push from the EU to highly consider their sustainability standards in the negotiations …

MEP: ‘Ideologically driven’ EU packaging law endangers food value chain

An ideologically driven EU packaging law based on rigid targets could end up endangering the food packaging and the food system value chain, Finnish MEP Elsi Katainen told EURACTIV in an interview.

Unwrapping the EU’s packaging law proposal

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An overhaul of the EU packaging and packaging waste directive (PPWD), the main EU-level instrument dealing with placing on the market packaging and requirements for its end-of-life, is due 30 November.

EU countries see success in slashing veterinary antibiotics sales

Sales of antibiotics used for animal use have almost halved between 2011-2021, according to a new report issued by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), putting the EU on track to attain its ambitions, but with a warning that the sector should not become complacent.

Agribusiness to dominate ‘not inclusive’ COP27 talks, say stakeholders

Farming initiatives at COP27 will be dominated by agri-business players and will lack farmers’ voices, sustainable campaigners and small-holders organisations have warned ahead of the global summit’s day devoted to agriculture.

Germany tightens animal transport rules, urges EU-wide follow-up

Germany will further restrict the transport of live animals to countries outside the EU, but without EU-wide regulation, the Agriculture Ministry's push could remain ineffective.

Cut animal transport times to reduce rise of superbugs, says EU agency

Animal transportation times should be cut to reduce the risk of spreading antimicrobial resistance, according to a new scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

German animal welfare label risks distorting EU market, critics say

The German cabinet approved Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir's bill for a mandatory animal welfare label on Wednesday (12 October), but the opposition and farming associations warn of inconsistencies within the EU single market.

Patchwork energy prioritisation risks food chain disruption, industry warns

EU countries' lack of cohesion in prioritising the agri-food sector for gas supply is sparking concerns of market disruptions among industry stakeholders while experts stress member states must coordinate to ensure consistency. 

EU fruit, vegetable producers scramble to save harvest as energy prices soar

Soaring energy bills have sent the EU’s horticulture sector scrambling to save their produce just as harvest time hits, leaving some debating whether to simply leave their crops to rot - and even whether to continue growing in the future.

Europe searches for alternatives in fertiliser supply battle

The battle for fertiliser, a vital commodity for food production, has emerged as one of the by-products of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, leaving states in Europe and elsewhere scrambling for alternative suppliers. Though alternatives exist there is no obvious quick fix.