The European Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food: Shaping the Future of the Agri-Food Sector

Background 

The Vision for Agriculture and Food was announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029 as a key priority within the first 100 days of the new mandate to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector. Presented by Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto and European Commissioner Christophe Hansen, it comes in response to growing criticisms that farmers have long voiced against the European Green Deal during the farmers' protests in 2023 and 2024 and takes into account the findings of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture. 

The Vision builds on key EU policy discussions, including the Draghi, Letta, and Niinistö reports, which emphasise long-term economic competitiveness and sustainability in Europe. It addresses the pressing challenges faced by EU farmers, such as market instability, regulatory burdens, environmental pressures, and demographic shifts in rural areas. By presenting a roadmap for reform, the Commission aims to create a more attractive, competitive, sustainable and fair agri-food system, balancing economic viability with sustainability goals. 

Key Reforms 

1. A smarter, fairer, and greener Common Agricultural Policy 

The Vision proposes changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly in how funds are distributed and how compliance is structured. The post-2027 CAP is set to move away from a compliance-based model toward an incentive-based system, aiming to support farmers that “actively engage in food production, towards the economic vitality of farms and the preservation of our environment” as well as provide them with greater flexibility and reduced administrative burdens. 

A key aspect of this reform is simplification. The Commission has committed to cutting red tape, particularly for small farms, by streamlining administrative procedures and introducing a CAP Simplification Package in the second quarter of 2025. This package will reduce reporting obligations and allow farmers to record sustainability data through a single platform, rather than multiple systems. 

Additionally, the Commission plans to introduce “degressivity and capping” in CAP payments. This means higher payments for smaller farms and a cap on subsidies for larger agricultural businesses, ensuring a more equitable distribution of funds. While the direct payment system will continue, a stronger focus will be placed on actions that support environmental sustainability and food security. The greening requirements of CAP are also set to be simplified, giving farmers more flexibility in environmental commitments. However, there are ongoing discussions on whether this could weaken environmental ambition. 

2. Revitalising rural development and securing a generational renewal 

Rural development and generational renewal are central themes in the communication, addressing the challenges of rural depopulation and the aging farming population. The Commission highlights the need to make farming a more attractive career path by ensuring fair incomes, access to land, and better living conditions in rural areas. A key initiative is the Generational Renewal Strategy, set to be introduced in 2025. This strategy will tackle barriers preventing young people from entering the sector, such as difficulties in accessing land and financing. The Commission emphasises that younger farmers tend to be more innovative and quicker to adopt digital and sustainable practices, making their participation crucial for the sector’s future. 

Another focus is the EU Rural Action Plan, which includes measures to improve infrastructure, digital connectivity, healthcare, and education in rural areas. The introduction of “rural-proofing”, a policy approach ensuring that rural communities are considered in decision-making processes, aims to support long-term rural sustainability. The Vision also promotes alternative revenue sources for farmers, such as renewable energy production or carbon farming. By diversifying income streams, the goal is to reduce economic pressure on farms and strengthen rural economies. 

3. Strengthening trade resilience and fair competition in the EU agri-food sector 

Trade is a major component of the Vision, with a strong focus on ensuring fair competition and improving the EU’s strategic autonomy ensuring resilience against geopolitical shifts by diversifying trade relations, expanding export opportunities, and fostering international partnerships. The Commission emphasises the need for greater reciprocity in production standards, ensuring that imported agricultural products meet the same environmental, health, and safety requirements as those produced within the EU.  

One of the key measures proposed is stricter regulation on plant protection products (PPPs). The Commission highlights that it is unfair for non-EU farmers to use pesticides that are banned in the EU and then export their products to the European market. The Vision aims to prevent the most hazardous substances from re-entering the EU through imports. 

Animal welfare is another priority. Future trade agreements are expected to require imports to comply with EU animal welfare standards, aligning with upcoming reforms in the Animal Welfare legislation. 

The Vision also underlines the importance of strategic autonomy and supply chain diversification. Currently, the EU relies heavily on third countries for agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers, feed, and energy resources. The Commission stresses the need to reduce dependence on external suppliers and enhance the resilience of EU agriculture against external shocks. Tackling the EU’s protein supply challenges is also a priority, alongside reinforcing the alignment of production standards for imported products. 

Lastly, launching a long-term strategy on livestock will be crucial to ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of European animal production in the years ahead. 

4. Creating the conditions for a future-proof agricultural sector 

Europe’s agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Vision emphasises the need to align with the EU’s 2040 climate targets while ensuring that sustainability and economic viability go hand in hand. To achieve this, the sector must adopt innovative practices that not only support decarbonisation but also create new opportunities for farmers, reinforcing their competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. 

A key aspect of this transition is equipping farmers with the tools to measure and improve their farm-level performance, enabling them to make informed decisions that enhance both productivity and sustainability. At the same time, safeguarding Europe’s natural resources is essential. Protecting and restoring biodiversity, maintaining healthy soils, ensuring clean water and air, and reducing emissions are critical steps toward preserving nature for future generations. 

To support these objectives, the Vision outlines concrete measures aimed at strengthening the sustainability of the agri-food sector. Farmers will have access to a voluntary benchmarking system to assess and enhance their on-farm sustainability practices, providing them with valuable insights to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. A Water Resilience Strategy will be introduced to address growing challenges related to water availability and quality. 

Additionally, accelerating access to biopesticides will play a crucial role in supporting sustainable crop protection while minimizing environmental impact. Incentives will be introduced through carbon removal and carbon farming initiatives, rewarding farmers who contribute to carbon sequestration efforts. Finally, the launch of an EU digital strategy for agriculture will enhance the use of technology and data-driven solutions, empowering farmers with innovative tools to navigate the green transition. 

Conclusion 

The Vision for Agriculture and Food presents a broad framework to address economic, environmental, and social challenges, with proposed reforms throughout the entire agri-food chain. A key aspect of the Vision is simplification, with measures to reduce bureaucracy and streamline access to support. At the same time, it emphasizes the need for fairer subsidy distribution, stronger rural infrastructure, and trade policies that ensure a level playing field for EU producers. 

To support farmers, the agri-food chain, and ultimately EU citizens, the Vision outlines a comprehensive plan centered on several key initiatives. These are just a selection of the measures proposed, reflecting a broader strategy aimed at ensuring a resilient, competitive, and sustainable agricultural sector. 

• Reviewing the Unfair Trading Practices rules and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation to ensure fairer conditions across the supply chain; 

• Proposing a fairer, simpler, and more targeted Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to better meet farmers' needs 

• Enhancing the EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory for improved market transparency and resilience 

• Presenting a new Bioeconomy Strategy to drive sustainable innovation 

• Building an ambitious investment agenda to foster economic growth in the sector 

• Delivering a Generational Renewal Strategy to support young farmers and secure the future of EU agriculture 

• Launching an EU Observatory on Farmland to monitor land use and ownership trends 

While the Vision presents ambitious goals, its success will depend on effective implementation, political support, and the ability to balance economic growth with sustainability commitments. As the EU moves toward a post-2027 agri-food framework, the coming years will be crucial in shaping the future of Europe’s food system and its sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness. agriculture. 

Curious to know more? Contact our Public Affairs team for further insights and discussions on the future of EU agri-food system!