Organic farming responds to other European Commission targets, such as reducing the use and impacts of pesticides by 50%. It also aims to dedicate 10% of agricultural area to high-diversity landscapes, which in turn make it easier to use alternatives to chemical pest control as required in organic farming35. However, some question whether a shift to organic farming holds all the answers. According to the authors of a recent review published in MDPI36, “The greatest challenge for organic food is to reduce the trade-offs between productivity and long-term sustainability.” They added that common mechanisms and standards were required across the EU if the region hopes to avoid problems related to organic food development and environmental protection. Others have questioned whether promoting organic practices at the expense of conventional farming could leave some consumers priced out of the market for certain foods. Kalk said:
“Greener and healthier foods will come at a cost. Farmers deserve a fair income and low-income families are entitled to healthy, nutritious and palatable foods, too.”37
The European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy The European Green Deal is the European Commission’s plan to make the EU economy sustainable, and policy for sustainable food production is a key part of that. Represented in its Farm to Fork strategy,38 it covers every part of the food network, including big changes to food production and farming practices, as well as making healthier food choices easier for consumers.
According to the strategy document39, it plans: •C utting food waste by half, with legally binding targets by 2023. At a manufacturer level, digital tools for procurement planning and measuring food loss and waste are among the recommendations under consideration40. • A mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling system, as well as a sustainability labelling scheme that takes environmental and social impacts into account41. • Promoting sustainable food systems on a global level. • Promoting healthy, plant-based foods for the health of people and the environment. • €10 billion of investment in research and innovation under the Horizon Europe programme42. Many of these proposals are still at an early stage, as the Commission targets farming initiatives first and foremost, but each could impact food companies in the coming years, from the largest multinationals to the smallest startups.43
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