The European Union stands at a critical juncture. Global challenges like climate change, food security, and technological infrastructure are crucial to the future development of European agriculture. The task at hand is how it can navigate these challenges while ensuring sustainable growth, environmental protection and support for farmers.
The Draghi Report provides substantial help in answering these questions. It lays out a strategy for sustainable EU growth with a focus on innovation, investment and connectivity – all of which are equally vital for strengthening our agricultural sector. Together with the conclusions from the Strategic Dialogue for the Future of Agriculture as well as the Letta report, it provides me with valuable insights on how to turn these ideas into actions within our sector.
Investing in innovation in the EU
Investment in innovation holds transformative potential for agriculture. This is my mantra when it comes to our sector. New technologies in digital solutions, new genomic techniques and sustainable crop protection can help farmers increase yields while reducing their environmental footprint. Our sector is ready. We have committed 14-billion-euro investment in new technologies such as biopesticides and digital agronomy. What we can clearly see is that investment alone won’t cut it. What’s needed is regulatory frameworks that focus on achieving measurable outcomes rather than prescribing rigid processes. This approach is critical for fostering innovation and delivering sustainable solutions in our sector.
Connectivity: bridging the digital divide for farmers
Connectivity is non-negotiable. Digital agriculture offers enormous potential. However, that potential can only be realised for a few farmers, with rural areas across Europe still facing significant connectivity gaps.
Originally posted on LinkedIn by Olivier de Matos.