Debate: The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 MAY 2023
Speaker: Mairead McGuinness
Language: EN

The issue about the translation was important to resolve because I do not want anything lost in translation in this key debate. And perhaps there are issues around that very point. The first thing to say is: Wednesday morning, European Parliament, Strasbourg, discussing agriculture and food is really important. This is a key debate. It acknowledges that our farmers and our food producers are absolutely essential to deliver a resilient agriculture and food sector. And I think farmers are much more than just enablers of the green transition. Frankly, it will not happen without farmers. And I think I believe many of you in this Chamber share my gratitude to our farmers. I had a very healthy breakfast this morning, so I want to thank those who produced the breakfasts that we all enjoyed, and those who work the land and in the food industry. We enjoy in Europe a food system with strong levels of safety and supply. It delivers a wide choice for consumers across our Member States, and it gives expression to our different cultures and traditions. Farmers are in a very unique position. They manage natural resources on which their livelihoods depend and, in turn, we depend on farmers’ ability to manage land, biodiversity and water, to generate food, feed, fibre, fuels and other biomass in a sustainable way, maintaining the resources in a good condition so that they can continue to produce for future generations. So our farmers and our farm workers are not only producers and stewards of the natural environment; they are also one of the first sectors to feel the harsh impacts of the climate and biodiversity crisis. The challenge we face is how to address unsustainable aspects of our food systems and support farmers in the green transition – building resilience, ensuring lasting food security – and this is what the European Green Deal agenda is all about. I want to start by addressing the issue of food security. Climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity are some of the biggest threats we face today and, indeed, in the coming decades. And this is a threat to our food security. A resilient agricultural sector reduces the impact of climate disasters like droughts, floods and heatwaves. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought to the fore the strategic importance of a resilient agri-food system. We experienced disruptive effects on production costs, on the availability of fertilisers and, more broadly, serious harm to global food security. We have significant food price inflation and this, as we know, impacts food affordability, particularly for low-income households. Our EU production capacity also faced pressure due to the devastating impacts of droughts last summer, which was the driest in 500 years. And we are again witnessing major droughts already this year, leading to severe water stress in certain European regions. Despite these difficulties, farmers have delivered – showing remarkable resilience while maintaining a reliable supply of food. But I think it is clear that to ensure food security, we need a resilient agri-food system, which brings me to my second point: the need for a green transition. We live in uncertain and very volatile times, so moving towards a more sustainable food system has to continue to guide the EU’s political policy and legislative agenda, as enshrined in our Green Deal. Addressing sustainability challenges in our path to ensuring food security not just for tomorrow, but for the longer term. And I think we all know that time is of the essence. I want to acknowledge and I know and understand that there are concerns about some legislative proposals before you – and I am here to listen to those concerns. But I think there is broad agreement amongst all of us on the objectives of having a more sustainable agriculture and food sector. And farmers themselves want this, too. So we need to look at all the proposals and see how they work together, rather than considering them separately. We are keen to engage in detailed discussions with you to forge the best possible legislative measures to ensure the productivity of EU agriculture today and in the future. But let’s stand back a little and look at some of the facts. We face a climate crisis and emissions from agriculture which, despite their relative low level, need to start coming down. And we must act decisively to halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity. Managing soils, water and air quality is key. I think you all know that about 80% of crops depend on animal pollination, and the value that we put on this is EUR 5 billion to our agriculture output. We have a dramatic decline of pollinators in Europe and this is a major threat to food production. And indeed, when it comes to the natural enemies of crop pests, their estimated contribution to pest control – so nature’s contribution – at least 50% of pest control occurring in crop yields happens through nature. And if we look to our soils, over 60% of soil in Europe is degraded, and this directly impacts soil health and its capacity to produce food. These are all vital resources that underpin yields for farmers and nutritious and healthy products for consumers. Our farmers are at the front line to address many of these challenges because they know that healthy soils and water management are important to secure their livelihoods. Agriculture provides solutions to mitigate climate change and restore natural resources. Farming practices, crop rotation, integrated pest management and conservation, tillage, indeed, conservation agriculture: these all help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health. So we must strive for agricultural systems that are regenerative and part of the circular economy. Improved nutrient management, managing farm by-products and recycling are key. Supported by the common agricultural policy, EU farmers are well placed to move to these sustainable systems. And indeed, if you look at the figures in the strategic plans, over 30% – or close to EUR 98 billion – of total public funding delivers on these objectives. These systems can deliver carbon storage and play a role as important carbon sinks, and this is crucial for creating a new source of potential income for our farmers through carbon farming. Our proposal for carbon removal certification will enable this. Farming and forestry are the only sectors that can provide new materials without depleting the earth. The European Parliament, in 2021, demonstrated strong support for the EU Biodiversity Strategy. You understand how urgent it is to stop and reverse biodiversity loss. And while I’m speaking of water, bear with me. I didn’t do that for effect – I was just thirsty. But it actually makes the point that I could actually reach for a glass of clean water. There are many, many people around the world who cannot, who don’t have a glass and certainly don’t have clean water. So I hope it made a point as well as satisfied my thirst. And in one sense I’ve said a lot of what needs to be done, and I think the time is right to do this now. President von der Leyen – in her State of the Union in 2020 – said that nature is our first ally to adapt to the consequences of climate change. Because we need well-functioning ecosystems – they are the very basis for sustainable growth, including for our agriculture and fisheries sector. The Nature Restoration Law is actually the bedrock of the international commitments in the Kunming-Montreal deal on biodiversity. And you know, EU and Member States were instrumental in achieving a high level of ambition and clear targets. If I turn to pesticides, we need to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides because the science on this is putting us in this direction. Not acting fast enough now will have a long-term effect on our food security into the future. And indeed, as I said, up to half of our crops depend on pollinators and these are at risk. There are alternative alternatives to chemical pesticides – crop rotation, plant breeding, new breeding techniques and biological pest controls – and we need to integrate those into our farming systems. Without the actions set out in our proposal for nature restoration and the sustainable use of pesticides, farmers’ livelihoods and, indeed, food security will be put at risk. Again, this is what the science is telling us. These proposals are about ensuring that there is a future for our farms, our farmers and those who work in the food supply chain. Our proposals aim to help farmers, not harm them. The Commission recognised the exceptional circumstances affecting the food system since the start of the Russian war. We have increased concerns about global food security and we were reminded about the important role that Europe – the European Union – plays in global food security. In our staff working document, in January of this year, we looked at the main drivers affecting food security – both the supply and demand sides in the short and the long term. And really the conclusion was that we do need to act on these issues now. A consistent and comprehensive implementation of the European Green Deal – including the farm to fork and biodiversity strategies – will help the EU secure a sustainable, inclusive and resilient food system within a realistic time frame and with necessary support instruments. Going beyond regulatory and support measures, there are needs for changes in terms of consumption, reduction of food waste and increased innovation to provide all the tools needed to achieve our sustainability objectives, without jeopardising productivity during the transition. The assessment concluded that the key challenge for policymakers is to pave the way for a transition towards a more sustainable and resilient food system that meets and reconciles short and long-term needs at the same time. And we do need to make sure that our policies are well designed and balanced. The Commission is listening carefully to the concerns expressed by this House, by Member States, by stakeholders, including farmers. So as a consequence, for example, the Commission showed its openness to consider alternatives to a total ban on the use of pesticides in sensitive areas. These alternatives are intended to safeguard agricultural production, while still protecting health and the environment. The Council has requested additional input and evidence, and that will be delivered to the Council – and in parallel to the European Parliament – around our assessment of impacts. And while the focus in the headlines is on food security and environmental performance, it’s true that our farming sector is facing other challenges that we cannot ignore. The sector does not attract people, so there is not a rush of young men and women to become farmers. This House is really concerned about the lack of generational renewal in agriculture, and this is the third, and it’s a key, point. We have a very diversified agriculture across our Member States, but we see this common problem. The number of farmers is declining. Small farmers are opting out, renting land or, indeed, selling. Farmers are ageing – the average is 57. There is some light at the end of this tunnel: we are seeing more women go into farming. And one figure that struck me is the increase in the share of women female farm managers – to 31%, which is encouraging. But I do think we share this concern about generational renewal and our policies have to support – as Member States are doing – young farmers to get established. But encouraging young men and women to farm will not succeed if they cannot earn decent incomes for their efforts. We also need to make our rural areas more attractive and dynamic, and farmers are at the core of this. Indeed, I would say that perhaps COVID lockdowns have encouraged people to think about moving and living in rural areas, but they need connectivity, schools, access to health and, of course, mobility. This is the European Year of Skills. I think when it comes to skills around translating research and innovation to farm level, we have to assist our farmers in giving them the knowledge and allowing them to put it into practice. And this is a key part of the strategic plans. It is a unique opportunity because the research is there and it just needs to be, as I say, drilled into the soils of Europe by our farmers. Farmers have an appetite for knowledge and they will change if they are given the tools to do that. Just to say that Europe invests EUR 9 billion in research and innovation on food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. That is a significant amount of funding and we need to make it work at farm level. I have overstayed my welcome. I’ve spoken for over nine minutes and I thank my friend, the Minister, for sharing her time with me. But what I wanted to do was to give justice to this debate, and to deal with the concerns that I have heard and those who want change to happen, but want to help and support our farmers in that direction. So we need farmers – maybe we need to say that louder and clearer – not just to produce our food, but also to tackle those many challenges I have addressed and, indeed, that you will as well. It goes without saying that farmers are the enablers in this agenda on sustainability, but they can only play their part with the right incentives, the right support instruments, the right skills and the right innovation. It is our shared responsibility to give farmers clarity about what we are doing and why. And I look forward now to all of your contributions.