38. #AgriFoodDays: united towards sustainable agriculture

In the face of climate change, “now's the time to come together” - the words of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as she heralded January 2024 as the launch of the strategic dialogue between all actors in the food chain – an initiative she first announced in September. This video message was broadcast at the opening of the Agri-Food Days, which took place from 5-8 December in Brussels. On stage and in the hall, the event brought together all the stakeholders of the sector, including farmers, processors, distributors, consumers, environmental and animal protection NGOs, scientists and political decision-makers. It was an opportunity to exchange and imagine together a sustainable future for our agricultural and food systems. For this final episode of 2023, Food for Europe takes you behind the scenes of the event to confront the challenges facing the agricultural and rural world, as well as the solutions available. Peter Meedendorf, arable crop producer and president of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), shares his concerns about generational renewal in agriculture. Isabel Buscke, Head of the Liaison Office of the Federation of German Consumer Organisations, talks about the role of consumers, but also of retailers, in the transition to sustainable models. Gianluca Feligini, Head of Precision Technologies for Europe, Middle East and Africa at agricultural supplier CNH, discusses the technological advances that can support this transition. Finally, Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, Director of Strategy and Policy Analysis at DG AGRI, gives her assessment of the Agri-Food Days.