EU Scales Back Green Deal Ambitions in New Agri-Food Vision

The European Commission has unveiled a revised vision for Europe’s agri-food system by 2040, shifting away from the stringent environmental goals of the Green Deal in response to mounting farmer protests. The new strategy prioritizes regulatory simplification, economic sustainability, and making farming an attractive profession again.

This marks a departure from the Farm to Fork strategy, which aimed to reduce pesticide use and increase sustainability but faced resistance due to its strict targets.

“The approach has changed—necessary reductions will be achieved differently,” said Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen.

Key Changes:

• Regulatory simplification – Reducing bureaucratic burdens and making EU farming policies more farmer-friendly.

• Stronger support for farmers – Ensuring fair incomes, improving their role in supply chains, and protecting against unfair trade practices.

• Strategic autonomy – Prioritizing food security and supporting small and medium-sized farms.

• Revised trade policies – Imported goods must meet EU production standards, particularly regarding pesticide use and animal welfare.

• No new pesticide reduction policies – The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) has been officially abandoned.

• No NutriScore food labeling – The plan for mandatory front-of-pack nutritional labels has been dropped in favor of origin and welfare indicators.

With this shift, the EU Commission aims to support farmers rather than pressure them, addressing concerns about competitiveness while maintaining basic environmental considerations. However, the new approach lacks clear reforms for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), leaving many questions about future subsidy distribution.