The European Commission has published a “transition pathway” for the agri-food processing industry in the EU to enhance the environmental sustainability and digitalisation of the sector.
The commission said it has co-developed the transition pathway with member states and stakeholders such as industry groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The pathway identifies challenges and opportunities specifically in the processing sector and, according to the commission, proposes actions to contribute to a “competitive, sustainable, resilient and fair” EU agri-food system.
The pathway says that the food system’s competitiveness and resilience require “fair returns for all players in the value chain”.
It also outlined “smart sustainability investments” to limit food inflation, as well as the need to support the international attractiveness of EU agri-food exports.
As part of this “transition”, processors in agri-food sector are encouraged to take up the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices and take actions to achieve the code’s sustainability objectives.
The commission is also looking to boost collaboration between different business support organisations, and to increase awareness of research and innovation opportunities, especially in sustainability innovation.
The pathway document, published today (Monday, March 11) presents EU policies for programmes that can be mobilised to support the transition towards a “green, digital and resilient EU agri-food industrial ecosystem”, and invites national and regional authorities to also mobilise their policies accordingly.
The commission will set up a Transition Pathway Stakeholder Support Forum Platform to facilitate the implementation of the pathway.
The transition pathway will cover eight main areas of intervention, as follows:
- Sustainable competiveness;
- Public governance;
- Social dimension;
- Research and innovation, and technological solutions;
- The single market and infrastructure;
- Skills;
- Investments and funding;
- International trade and co-operation.
The document says that the transition pathway will build on existing strategies relevant to the agri-food processing sector.
It does not propose new legislative frameworks or regulations, and the suggested actions will result from consulting stakeholders and emphasising possible enabling policies for the implementation of already-existing strategies and initiatives.
The document says that this transition pathway does not deal with agri-food production at the farmer or producer level, or with the retail sector, the latter of which is dealt with in the separate transition pathway for retail.