Lesson 2: From farm to fork
In 2020, the ‘From farm to fork’ strategy was unveiled by the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal, a collection of policy initiatives that aim to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. The strategy takes a comprehensive approach to the obstacles facing sustainable food systems and acknowledges the inseparable connections between the well-being of individuals, societies, and the planet.
The strategy’s primary objectives include:
- providing enough affordable and nutritious food while adhering to planetary boundaries,
- reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers;
- decreasing the sales of antimicrobials by half;
- expanding organic farming;
- promoting sustainable food consumption and healthy diets;
- reducing food loss and waste;
- combatting food fraud in the supply chain; and
- enhancing animal welfare.
The strategy foresees a number of initiatives and legislative proposals, among others, on:
- organic farming
- front-of-pack nutrition labelling and sustainable food labelling
- food waste reduction
A more sustainable food system will also help protect Europe’s nature and biodiversity. The ‘farm to fork’ strategy is aligned with the 2030 EU biodiversity strategy.
