As the European elections scheduled for June 8 and 9 approach, stances on topics such as agribusiness, one of the sectors most in the spotlight of insiders and others, are multiplying. Among the most recent interventions is that of Competere, Policies for sustainable development, a policy institute with offices in Rome, Milan and Brussels that conducts analysis and advocacy to promote global trade, innovation and resilient and sustainable supply chains to promote sustainable food. 

The organization has just unveiled the "Strategic Policy Guide for 2024-2029," designed specifically for the European agrifood sector. It is a set of "essential principles" intended to garner the support of future representatives in the European Parliament, serving as a roadmap for their future efforts".

The agrifood supply chain -Competere writes- deserves a prominent position on the European policy agenda. The last five years have seen a systematic marginalization of farmers, entrepreneurs, workers and researchers in the agriculture and food sector, unfairly blamed for the climate and health crises".

The rigidity shown -the paper continues- in not adjusting the Green Deal and in particular the Farm to Fork strategy during critical events such as pandemic, supply crises, high inflation and geopolitical crises, attests to a lack of flexibility and scientific pragmatism. Moreover, these policies have indirectly strengthened the economies of competing countries such as China, India, the U.S. and some Gulf states, to the detriment of Europe".

The consequences are visible," the note adds, "desertification of the countryside, closure of farms, relocation of food companies out of Europe, and consumers forced to opt for lower quality or more expensive food from abroad. Although promising, GreenTech involves significant costs and is not alone sufficient to solve the global food challenge. Therefore, it should be considered a crucial, but not unique, component in a balanced approach toward sustainability." 

• encourage the transition to more advanced production and food systems, which must take place in synergy with the maintenance of a balance between economic, social and environmental sustainability;
• eliminate any form of prejudice, whether of a geographical, ideological, political or commercial nature, to any type of nutrient, ingredient or food product grown, produced or imported in Europe;
• encourage the consolidation and further development of the agri-food sector through the efficiency of supply chains and greater transparency to block potential speculation in the bud;enhancing both traditional local products and European industrial productions that stand out for their quality and sustainability;
• stimulating and unlocking investments along the food chain in order to support practices, innovations and research to make the European production model more efficient and sustainable.

• enhancing the capacity of citizens to make informed and informed choices to follow a balanced diet;reduce obesity, which now has all the traits of an invisible pandemic, with very high costs on European national health systems, productivity and the well-being of citizens;
• overcoming the policies against obesity adopted to date;discourage the use of purpose fees.