The EU must give greater priority to short supply chains and agroecology if it is to retain its agriculture and make it more resilient to new challenges, such as climate change. This is according to an own-initiative opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted on 17 July on promoting short and alternative food chains in the European Union.
The opinion was drafted by Geneviève Savigny (Diversity Europe, France). “Initiatives based on short circuits can create jobs and growth and, consequently, wealth, especially in rural areas”, explains Geneviève Savigny.
The EESC promotes agroecology and presents its benefits for farmers (better soil fertility, reduced production costs, increased resilience of agricultural systems to weather conditions) and consumers (health and nutritional quality of food and water, preservation of biodiversity and landscapes).
It calls for an action plan for agroecology, especially adjusting the application of food legislation to small producers (flexibility for small-scale production and with respect to labelling), the strengthening of education and advice services for transformation, direct selling and agroecology, and adapted competition rules to facilitate the supply of community catering through short and local circuits. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)