On Tuesday 25 April, the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture said that the EU needs a plan to ensure food security.
By adopting the report by Marlene Mortler (EPP, German) on food security and the long-term resilience of EU agriculture by 39 votes in favour, 8 against and no abstentions, the Committee’s members say that the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have highlighted structural problems in Europe’s agricultural sector and call for the strengthening of the EU’s food security and strategic autonomy.
The European Commission is invited to put forward a holistic strategic plan to ensure food security for the EU, including using strategic food stocks.
A European protein and feed strategy should be part of this plan so that farmers become less dependent on imports from third countries, add MEPs.
Meanwhile, temporary EU measures to support farmers, adopted because of the war in Ukraine, should be maintained if the Russian invasion continues.
MEPs advocate for the use of new breeding techniques that make crops more resistant, thus reducing the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. A specific EU programme should support the modernisation of irrigation facilities and the promotion of new water management infrastructure.
MEPs advocate for campaigns against food waste, national food prevention programmes and the cooperation of supermarkets with food banks.
Food waste could be reduced by investing in more sustainable transport and storage facilities for agricultural products. Finally, according to the elected representatives, food products must benefit from a dedicated chapter in trade agreements in order to guarantee reciprocity between European and third-country producers.
The report is expected to be on the European Parliament’s plenary session agenda from 12 to 15 June. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)