The EU Agri-Food Days 2024, held from Dec. 10–12 in Brussels, gathered stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the future of agriculture and food systems.
Organized by the European Commission’s DG Agriculture and Rural Development the event served as a key platform for dialogue among farmers, policymakers, businesses, analysts, and digital experts, according to a press release.
The event featured key sessions on critical topics, including:
- Food sovereignty and sustainable trade policies
- The evolving role of farmers in the food value chain
- Digitalisation and data sharing for agricultural progress
- Opportunities for young farmers in the changing agri-food landscape
The opening session kicked off with a video address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, followed by keynote speeches from Nadia Calviño (President of the European Investment Bank), and Christophe Hansen (Commissioner for Agriculture and Food). Their remarks highlighted the EU’s commitment to promoting sustainable, innovative, and resilient agricultural practices.
Day 1
The Policy Outlook session, featuring Veronika Vrecionová and István Nagy, discussed the Vision for Agriculture and the CAP’s role in shaping EU agriculture. Farmers like Magdalena Esterhammer and Vojtěch Válka shared strategies for innovation and resilience. A session on fair remuneration addressed rising input costs and food inflation, with Céline Bonnet and Lennart Nilsson exploring solutions. The day ended with a networking event celebrating 10 years of the EU Agricultural Outlook Conference.
Day 2
Seth Meyer and international experts presented the EU Agricultural Outlook Report, highlighting emerging market trends. Nicola Pochettino and Dirk Jacobs discussed investments in sustainable agriculture, while Sébastien Abis examined the balance between trade policies and sustainability goals.
Day 3
Innovations like the Colorado Beetle Catcher were showcased in the Research and Innovation session, with insights from Kerstin Rosenow and Kelli Talving on practical applications. The European Commission also released its annual agricultural outlook report, offering projections for key sectors.
The EU Agri-Food Days 2024 emphasized the need for collective action to address challenges and seize opportunities in European agriculture.
Read EU Agricultural Outlook 2024-2035 here.
