The farm-to-fork strategy is a holistic and forward-thinking approach to the food supply chain, which encompasses the entire journey of our food from its inception on the farm to its final destination on our plates.
This strategy is built on the fundamental principles of sustainability, transparency, and efficiency, and it aims to address the many challenges and opportunities within our global food system. By prioritizing the connections between producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers, the farm-to-fork strategy seeks to create a more resilient, responsible, and environmentally friendly food system.
In this article, we will explore the key components of the farm-to-fork strategy and its potential to revolutionize the way we produce, distribute, and consume food in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
What is the Farm to Fork Strategy?
The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly.
What’s the challenge for the Farm to Fork Strategy?
Food systems cannot be resilient to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic if they are not sustainable. We need to redesign our food systems which today account for nearly one-third of global GHG emissions, consume large amounts of natural resources, result in biodiversity loss and negative health impacts (due to both under- and over-nutrition) and do not allow fair economic returns and livelihoods for all actors, in particular for primary producers.
Which are the benefits of a sustainable production in agriculture and food sector?
Putting our food systems on a sustainable path also brings new opportunities for operators in the food value chain. New technologies and scientific discoveries, combined with increasing public awareness and demand for sustainable food, will benefit all stakeholders.
Which are the goals of the Farm to Fork Strategy?
The Farm to Fork Strategy aims to accelerate our transition to a sustainable food system that should:
- have a neutral or positive environmental impact
- help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts
- reverse the loss of biodiversity
- ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food
- preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns, fostering competitiveness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade
What does the Farm to Fork Strategy foresee?
EU legislation, based on the European Green Deal, has set as a general goal a new development strategy for the EU, with the aim of transforming it into a climate-neutral, equitable and prosperous society, which will have a modern, efficient use of resources and a competitive economy.
In particular, through the Farm-to-Fork strategy, the Union seeks to ensure adequate, economical and nutritious food, to ensure sustainable food production by substantially reducing the use of pesticides, antimicrobials and fertilizers, and to promote food consumption and healthy eating.
The proposing organizations, consistently following the priorities set regarding sustainability, are fully complied with the content and the spirit of EU legislation.
The rationalization of production through the management of inputs-outputs, leads to addressing the negative consequences of over-irrigation (waste of water and energy), increased greenhouse gas emissions, improper use of fertilization and increased production costs.