Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 23 March 2022, providing an overview to short-term and medium-term action aimed at enhancing food security and supporting farmers and consumers in the European Union (EU), in light of rising food prices and input costs.

Further information:

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and climate change have placed great pressure on the agricultural sector across the globe. Russia's invasion of Ukraine further destabilised agricultural markets. Already before this aggression, commodity markets had already witnessed a significant price surge, which agricultural markets felt through the increases in energy and fertiliser costs, and the consequent increase in farm prices.

This Communication sets out a response to an invitation from the European Council that the European Commission presents options to address rising food prices and the issue of global food security. It is based on an assessment of the situation and build on the Commission's vision for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system as laid out in the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. It lays out short term measures to support food security and agriculture in Ukraine, global food security, as well as producers and consumers in the EU. It also calls for addressing the deficiencies revealed by the developing crisis in ways that enhance the transition towards sustainable, resilient and fair food systems in the EU and globally.

Official

European Commission: CAP: Market Measures: Ensuring global food supply and food security https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/market-measures/agri-food-supply-chain/contingency-plan_en#efscm

European Commission: Press Release, 23/03/2022: Commission acts for global food security and for supporting EU farmers and consumers https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1963

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Commission acts to safeguard global food security and support EU farmers and consumers (23 March 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_1964

Greens/EFA EP Group: Opinion, 23/03/2022: Putin's war puts global food security at risk. Why abandoning the Green Deal is not the solution https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/russia-ukraine-war-puts-global-food-security-at-risk/

Renew Europe EP Group: Newsroom, 23/03/2022: The EU must carry the torch of global food security https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2022-03-23/the-eu-must-carry-the-torch-of-global-food-security

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 24/03/2022: S&Ds: Russia’s war on Ukraine shows we need a more resilient EU food system without lowering quality or health safety standards https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-russias-war-ukraine-shows-we-need-more-resilient-eu-food-system-without-lowering

GUE/NGL EP Group: News, 25/03/2022: Food security: EU Commission buckles under lobby pressure https://left.eu/food-security-eu-commission-buckles-under-lobby-pressure/

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News

Euronews, 21/03/2022: Europe's food security could be threatened by war in Ukraine, farmers warn https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/21/europe-s-food-security-could-be-threatened-by-war-in-ukraine-farmers-warn

EUObserver, 22/03/2022: Nature on hold as EU puts premium on food security https://euobserver.com/climate/154551

Bloomberg, 23/03/2022: EU Proposes €1.5 Billion Package to Shore Up Food Security https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-23/eu-proposes-1-5-billion-euro-package-to-shore-up-food-security

Reuters, 23/03/2022: EU offers farmers aid, more land to grow due to Ukraine war https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-offers-farmers-aid-more-land-grow-due-ukraine-war-2022-03-23/

The Brussels Times, 24/03/2022: EU announces support measures for farmers amid surge in global commodity prices https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/212625/eu-announces-support-measures-for-farmers-amid-surge-in-global-commodity-prices

EurActiv, 25/03/2022: EU food supply will remain secure, but less accessible for Europe’s poorest https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-food-supply-will-remain-secure-but-less-accessible-for-europes-poorest/

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Commentary and Analysis

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP): News, 21/03/2022: The EU’s emerging response to the food crisis needs urgent reset https://ieep.eu/news/the-eu-s-emerging-response-to-the-food-crisis-needs-urgent-reset

Bruegel: Blog, 21/03/2022: The impact of the war in Ukraine on food security https://www.bruegel.org/2022/03/the-impact-of-the-war-in-ukraine-on-food-security/

ARC2020: Main Stories, 22/03/2022: Food Security Communication – some key aspects https://www.arc2020.eu/food-security-communication-some-key-aspects/

Politico, 23/03/2022: The EU’s plan to fix the food system: 5 key takeaways https://www.politico.eu/article/5-takeaways-from-the-eus-plan-to-stabilize-the-food-system/

FoodDrinkEurope: Resources, 23/03/2022: Europe's Food and Drink Industry committed to ensure continuity of supply, despite today's challenging context https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/resource/europes-food-and-drink-industry-committed-to-ensure-continuity-of-supply-despite-todays-challenging-context/

Forbes, 23/03/2022: EU Plan To Safeguard Food Resilience Drives Away From Ambitious Environmental Targets https://www.forbes.com/sites/danieladelorenzo/2022/03/23/eu-plan-to-safeguard-food-resilience-drives-away-from-ambitious-environmental-targets/?sh=4dc4fd4f1ed1

WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF): News, 24/03/2022: EU Commission stands by the Farm to Fork Strategy https://www.wwf.eu/?uNewsID=6243866

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