49. #EUAgriFoodDays: A promise to shape the future together

For this final podcast of 2024, Food for Europe takes you to the EU Agri Food Days - the flagship event bringing together stakeholders all along the agri-food chain , organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development. From December 10-12, some 700 people from 56 countries gathered to debate the issues that will affect EU’s agriculture for the next five-year mandate and beyond. This week’s podcast gives you a flavour of the event. Magdalena Esterhammer, a Farmfluencer from Austria, discusses the power of storytelling in farming, where farmfluencers help bridge the knowledge gap between consumers and agriculture, while advocating for a strong network of farmers to share experiences and tackle common challenges. Katharina Schobersberger, young farmer and Vice-President of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA), advocates for better incentives, income stability, and clear policy goals for young farmers. Jean Matthieu Thévenot, young vegetable farmer and member of the Coordinating Committee of the European Connection Via Campesina (ECVC), calls for fair wages, access to land, and training to attract young farmers and ensure food sovereignty. Dr. John Helming, project coordinator of the EU-funded project MINDSTEP, emphasises how R&I can support evidence-based policymaking for a competitive and sustainable agriculture. Elli Tsiforou, Secretary-General at COPA-COGECA, emphasizes digitalization's role in balancing sustainability for farmers, urging investments and practical solutions for adoption. Finally, Catherine Geslain-Lannelle, Director of Strategy & Policy analysis at DG AGRI, highlights dialogue and cooperation as cornerstones of future policy development.