EU

Towards a Common Food Policy for the EU

Public policies are failing to respond to the challenges in European food systems. A 'Common Food Policy' is required to bring a range of poorly aligned policies (e.g. agriculture, trade, environment, development, food safety) under one roof, to refocus them on clear and consistent objectives, and to drive a transition to sustainability. In May 2016, IPES-Food launched a three-year process of research and reflection to co-develop a Common Food Policy vision. Following 5 policy labs in Brussels, 4 local labs around Europe, and the EU Food and Farming Forum (EU3F) in May 2018, the process culminated in the publication of IPES-Food's final report 'Towards a Common Food Policy for the EU' (February 2019). 

Read the report: Towards A Common Food Policy for the EU

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Publications

All publications
February 2019

Towards a Common Food Policy for the EU

This report argues for a Common Food Policy for the European Union: a policy setting a direction of travel for the whole food system, bringing together the various sectoral policies that affect food production, processing, distribution, and consumption, and refocusing all actions on the transition to sustainability.

December 2019

Client Earth: EU Soil Framework Directive

ClientEarth's legal analysis of IPES-Food's proposal for an EU Soil Framework Directive recommended in “Towards a Common Food Policy for the European Union."

Read the legal brief (EN)

May 2019

33 organizations call for EU food policy and Vice President for Food

Read the open letter to the spitzenkandidaten

December 2016

Policy Lab 2 Orientation Paper: Food Environments in the EU

The second Policy Lab of the Common Food Policy Process was held on 7 December, 2016. The event was co-hosted by IPES-Food and Marc Tarabella MEP at the Committee of the Regions.

Read the orientation paper (EN)

March 2017

Policy Lab 3 Orientation Paper: Alternative Food Systems

The third Policy Lab of the Common Food Policy Process was held on March 29, 2017. The event was co-co-hosted by IPES-Food and Anneli Jäätteenmäki MEP at the European Parliament.

Read the orientation paper (EN)

May 2017

Policy Lab 4 Orientation Paper: The Trade-Environment-Development Nexus

The fourth Policy Lab of the Common Food Policy Process was held on March 29, 2017. The event was co-co-hosted by co-hosted by IPES-Food and the European Economic and Social Committee. 

Read the orientation paper (EN)

November 2017

Policy Lab 5 Orientation Paper: Access to Healthy Food for All

The final Policy Lab of the Common Food Policy Process was held on November 8, 2017. The event was co-co-hosted by co-hosted by IPES-Food and Daciana Sârbu MEP at the European Parliament. 

Read the orientation paper (EN/FR)

June 2018

EU3F Thank you letter

Recap and thank you for attending the EU Food & Farming Forum (May 2018) from IPES-Food.

Read the letter (EN/FR)

May 2018

Q&A: Why a Common Food Policy?

A brief Q&A on why we need food system reform in the EU. 

Read the Q&A (EN)

October 2017

Concept Note: Towards a Common Food Policy for the EU

Over 2016-2019, IPES-Food is undertaking a collaborative process of research and reflection to identify what tools would be required to deliver sustainable food systems in Europe.

Read the concept note (EN)

July 2017

Turin Local Lab Summary

The first Local Lab of the Common Food Policy process was held on July 13, 2017. The event was hosted by IPES-Food in conjunction with the International University College of Turin (IUC Torino), with the support of the City of Turin and Warwick Research Development Fund. 

Read the summary (EN)

November 2017

Montpellier Local Lab Summary

The second Local Lab of the Common Food Policy process was held on November 23, 2017. The event was co-hosted by IPES-Food  and the Chaire UNESCO Alimentation du Monde, with the support of the City of Montpellier. 

Read the summary (FR)

January 2018

Milan Local Lab Summary

The third Local Lab of the Common Food Policy process was held on January 30, 2018. The event was co-hosted by IPES-Food, Economia e Sostenibilità, Fondazione Cariplo, with the support of the City of Milan. 

Read the summary (EN)

April 2018

Freiburg Local Lab Summary

The fourth Local Lab of the Common Food Policy process was held on April 26, 2018. The event was co-hosted by IPES-Food, Die Agronauten, and Agrikultur E.V., with the support of the City of Freiburg. 

Read the summary (EN/DE)

Media

All media
February 2022

Climate change puts increasing pressure on food production, finds IPCC

Euractiv

February 2022

OPINION | UA – UE : une autre agriculture est possible

Jeune Afrique

February 2022

OPINION | Can Africa and the EU join forces to boost sustainable farming?

Reuters

October 2020

EU net-zero aim 'in tatters' as lawmakers fail to shift farm rules, critics charge

REUTERS

March 2019

Steun die dikmakende suikerbiet niet

NRC | Olivier De Schutter, Emile Frison, Joost De Jong

March 2019

A Set Menu for Europe? Building a Food Policy that Brings Everybody to the Same Table

Food Tank | Alexandra Popescu

February 2019

Fixing food systems in 80 steps: time for a Common Food Policy for the EU

EPHA | Nicholas Jacobs

February 2019

La revolución alimentaria que necesita Europa

El Pais | Gonzalo Fanjul

February 2019

Immoral food conventions: Time to cut food giants’ toxic power

Irish Examiner

February 2019

Hundreds of EU stakeholders call for a 'common food policy'

Euractiv | Claire Stam

February 2019

"Il n’est pas cohérent de prétendre vouloir soutenir la relocalisation de l’alimentation, et de s’entêter à conclure des accords de libre-échange"

La Libre | GILLES TOUSSAINT

February 2019

Una Politica alimentare comune per la riforma agricola dell’Europa

Il Sole 24 Ore | Elena Comelli

February 2019

Proponen poner fin a la “antigua PAC” para crear una Política Alimentaria Común en la Unión Europea

AGROINFORMACION

February 2019

A ‘Common Food Policy’ Offers a Guide to a More Sustainable Food System in Europe. Could It Be a Model for the U.S.?

Civil Eats | LELA NARGI

February 2019

Studio esperti Ue: politica agricola diventi alimentare

ANSA

February 2019

Nouveau plaidoyer en faveur d'une politique alimentaire commune pour l'UE

Agence Europe

February 2019

Overarching EU food policy presented to Brussels: ‘The first movers shall be rewarded by consumers’

Food Navigator | Flora Southey

February 2019

Irish Families Need Better Access to Healthy Food, Says World Expert

The Irish Times | Catherine Cleary

February 2019

IPES Food Launch a Common Food Policy

ARC2020

February 2019

‘Geef onze velden geen meststoffen, maar kennis’

De Standaard

February 2019

Expertos exigen a la UE una política alimentaria común sin contradicciones

EFE | La Vanguardia

February 2019

Vers une politique alimentaire commune?

Euractiv | Claire Stam

February 2019

Fini la malbouffe et l'agriculture polluante: 84 propositions pour une politique alimentaire commune

La Libre | Isabelle Lemaire

January 2019

L'Union européenne reste dans une approche low cost de l'alimentaire

L'Echo | Interview Olivier De Schutter

December 2018

Gutes und hochwertiges Essen für alle

Wiener Zeitung | Olivier De Schutter & Thomas Waitz

October 2018

Une Europe agroécologique est-elle possible?

IDDRI | Olivier De Schutter

May 2018

As CAP Reform Enters Familiar Cycles, a Common Food Policy Offers a Plan B for the EU

ARC2020 | Olivier De Schutter

September 2017

A Food Policy for Europe

European Green Journal | Olivier De Schutter

February 2017

Time to put a Common Food Policy on the menu

Politico | Olivier De Schutter & Carlo Petrini

February 2018

5 Questions to Olivier De Schutter

Why we need a Common Food Policy

January 2018

Olivier De Schutter presents a Common Food Policy for Europe

Metropoli Agricole 2018

Infographics

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