President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has launched a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture, a new forum mandated to shape a common vision for the future agricultural and food system of the EU.

The strategic dialogue, announced by the president in her 2023 State of the Union address, will address the challenges and opportunities raised by the dialogue participants, such as fair livelihoods for farmers and rural communities, supporting agriculture within the limits of our planet and its ecosystems, harnessing the huge opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation, and promoting a prosperous future for the EU food system in a competitive world.

Professor Peter Strohschneider has been appointed as the president, based on his extensive experience, particularly as the president of the "Commission for the Future of Agriculture" of the German federal government.

The strategic dialogue brings together key stakeholders from the entire agri-food chain, including farmers, cooperatives, agri-food businesses, and rural communities, as well as non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society, financial institutions, and the academic environment. A series of thematic meetings will be organized after the launch meeting, which will take place in the first half of 2024.

Both the Council and the European Parliament will be involved in this process, and the president, Professor Strohschneider, will periodically inform and exchange views with both institutions regarding the dialogue.

By combining different perspectives, the dialogue aims to encourage the creation of new solutions and develop a common vision for the future of the EU agricultural and food sector by the summer of 2024. The dialogue president, in collaboration with the participants, will define the exact format of the conclusions.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated: "The time has come to reach a new consensus on food and agriculture among farmers, rural communities, and all other actors in the EU agri-food chain. Farmers and the EU food industry provide our citizens with healthy and high-quality food and make a crucial contribution to our economy, especially in rural areas.

At the same time, they make a tremendous effort to contribute to our collective green and digital transition. But, they also face a wide range of challenges, from climate change to inflation, to the volatile market impact. Through this strategic dialogue, we are creating a forum to provide a clear vision for the future, for the benefit of all."

History of the File

In her 2023 State of the European Union address, President von der Leyen announced that the European Commission would launch a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU.

In her opening speech at the EU Agriculture and Food Days, the president added that the dialogue would be officially launched in January 2024, aiming to address relevant issues, such as:

• How can we offer our farmers and the rural communities they live in a better perspective, including a fair standard of living?
• How can we support agriculture within the limits of our planet and its ecosystem?
• How can we better leverage the opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation?
• How can we promote a bright and prosperous future for Europe's food system in a competitive world?

The strategic dialogue aims to cover all policies in the field of agriculture and food production to strengthen our understanding of current and anticipated challenges. The dialogue will be an opportunity to listen to the perspectives, ambitions, concerns, and solutions of farmers and other key stakeholders throughout the entire agri-food chain.

This will enable a focused discussion with the goal of finding a common ground for the future of the EU's agri-food sector.