Sustainable and overarching European food policy has long been a focus for European decision-makers and the European Committee of the Regions brings forward its contribution to the debate through EPP-CoR Rapporteur Arno Kompatscher's, President of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (IT), opinion 'Towards a sustainable EU food policy that creates jobs and growth in Europe's Regions and Cities', adopted today in the Commission for Natural Resources.
The aim of the opinion is to not only build a comprehensive European food policy but introduce a common long-term vision to also simultaneously contribute to the fight against climate change, preserve biodiversity and the environment, to improve health as well as create jobs and growth.
Rapporteur Kompatscher stated that "Europe needs a sustainable food policy based on the added value represented by the various food cultures existing and at the same time uniform market rules that strengthen the regional cycles of production and consumption."
The opinion also encourages the use of “green” public procurement guidelines, to help public and private organisations to purchase foods on the basis of sustainable criteria and promotes the healthy functioning of ecosystem services that sustain agricultural productivity and its resilience. Ensuring access to healthy diets, especially for low-income families, is also highlighted as an important goal for future food policy.
Food production should equally be developed as a sustainable system to improve cross-border cooperation and synergies with other policy areas. Therefore, the opinion proposes the development of standardised definitions, methodologies and practical measures to provide transparent and harmonised information and good practices towards sustainable food production.