The European Parliament endorses the “From farm to table” strategy
452 votes in favor, 170 against and 76 abstentions make up the result of the vote carried out by the European Parliament for a resolution in favor of the "From farm to table" strategy, which has already received the support of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe and that according to the European Chamber will serve to "produce healthier food, guarantee food security and a fair income to farmers and ranchers and reduce the environmental footprint of the sector."
The Chamber has shown its concern that sustainability is improved in each and every one of the phases of the food supply chain, and emphasizes that all links, from the farmer and the rancher to the consumer, play a role. For this reason, and so that producers can take a fair share of the benefits obtained from sustainably produced food, MEPs ask the Commission to redouble its efforts to strengthen their position in the supply chain, adapting if necessary the rules on competition.
Similarly, it has outlined a series of recommendations to achieve some of the objectives set out in the strategy, such as the following:
Healthier food
- Formulate scientifically endorsed EU nutrition recommendations.
- Stop the excessive consumption of meat and ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar and fat, even setting maximum intake levels.
Pesticides and Pollinator Protection
- Improve the approval process for pesticides and better control their use, to protect pollinators and biodiversity.
- Set binding targets for reducing pesticide use. Member States should implement these objectives through their CAP strategic plans.
Emissions of greenhouse gases
- The 2030 Goal 55 package of proposals should regulate and set ambitious targets for emissions from agriculture and land use, including strict criteria for biomass-powered renewable energy.
- Natural carbon sinks will need to be restored and enhanced.
Animal welfare
- To advance pan-European harmonization, common indicators on animal welfare are needed, with sufficient scientific backing.
- It is necessary to review the current European legislation and decide if changes are necessary.
- Gradual end to cage use in EU livestock.
- Products of animal origin from outside the Union will only be able to access the Community market if they comply with standards similar to those of Europe.
Ecological agriculture
- In 2030 the area dedicated to organic crops should have been expanded.
- Promotion, public procurement and tax initiatives are necessary to stimulate demand.
The situation in Spain
In Spain, in 2019 a rebound was detected in the amount of phytosanitary products marketed, which translated into a rise of 2.8% that year, according to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. However, this same study points out that in recent years the risks in the use of this type of pesticides and pesticides have been progressively reduced. In Spain, this reduction was 4% higher than the EU average.
The pandemic has also marked the eating habits of Spaniards in 2020. According to the Report on Food Consumption in Spain 2020 prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Spanish consumer has given more importance to the origin of food and has begun to worry about acquiring fresh and local products, paying more attention to how the food has been produced.
Shared responsibility
After the vote, Herbert Dorfmann (PPE, Italy), rapporteur for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, pointed out that "the responsibility for making agriculture more sustainable must be shared: by farmers and ranchers, but also by farmers. Consumers. Our farmers and ranchers are already doing a great job; if we ask them to further reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics, we will have to support them, or production will eventually shift outside the Union. Ensuring the availability of food at prices Reasonable should remain a priority."
For her part, Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Netherlands), rapporteur for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, added: "Current European policies are promoting agricultural models that are harmful to the environment, and paving the way for imports of unsustainable products. We propose concrete measures so that our food system once again respects the limits of the planet: stimulating local food production and moving away from intensive livestock farming and monocultures.
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