The Ministers of Agriculture of the European Union (EU) were willing to advance the development of organic farming in the community club, while in a videoconference with the US secretary of the field, Tom Vilsack, they discussed the sustainable development of the systems food and adaptation to climate change.

Last March, the European Commission (EC) presented an action plan that aims to help European farmers and ranchers to make the leap to organic production with the aim of achieving that by 2030 at least 25% of the European agricultural area be organic, as established by the “From farm to table” strategy.

Thus, the plan provides tools and ideas to accompany a balanced growth of the sector.

Actions planned include stimulating demand and ensuring consumer confidence with promotional campaigns and other measures to ensure that fraud does not occur.

The ministers approved conclusions in which they “welcome” the action plan on organic production.

According to the Twenty-seven, the initiative “reflects the central role of organic farming and production in the EU’s ‘Farm to Table’ and biodiversity strategies, with the aim of promoting more sustainable models of agricultural production. and food systems, and which supports the achievement of the goal of allocating 25% of EU agricultural land to organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture ”.

The ministers also recall that each member state “should contribute to the collective effort” and underline “the important contribution of organic farming and production to guarantee the sustainability and sovereignty of European agriculture and food production”.

In any case, they ask to take into account the specificities and different starting points, circumstances and conditions of the Member States and their regions, as well as “the successes already achieved” when defining objectives and interventions in support of agriculture and agriculture. organic production in the national strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and in the voluntary national organic action plans.

Although these national organic action plans are voluntary, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, assured at a press conference that all EU countries have one or have expressed their intention to develop one.

In fact, the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, announced at the meeting the development in Spain of a specific roadmap for organic production, which will include measures to promote both the cultivation and consumption of this type of food.

As indicated by the Ministry of Agriculture in a statement, the objective of the roadmap will be to allocate 25% of the useful agricultural area to organic production.

At present, Spain allocates 10% of the useful agricultural area to organic production.

The videoconference with Vilsack was focused on the sustainable development of food systems and adaptation to climate change, according to the Slovenian minister of the sector, Joze Podgorsek, whose country presides over the Council of the EU this semester.

He added that Washington and Brussels agree “on some strategic goals,” such as carbon neutrality by 2050, and Podgorsek specified that agriculture is “a very important factor” in achieving that goal. The European Commissioner said he was “happy” that the United States has a “very similar” approach to that of the EU regarding the need for “more sustainable” food production.

He indicated that the North American country has introduced in its agricultural policy “values” of the European Green Pact, such as precision agriculture, carbon cultivation or crop rotation.

“We are prepared together to work, to cooperate in international forums to promote this sustainable mode of agriculture and food production,” he stated.

On the other hand, after the floods that last week affected countries such as Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg or the Netherlands, the Commissioner for Agriculture pointed out that Member States can use funds from the second pillar (rural development) of the CAP.

Today’s meeting also addressed the state of negotiations on various trade agreements carried out by the EC, the priorities of the Slovenian presidency and animal welfare issues, such as the proposal that the Community Executive hopes to present to gradually eliminate and end up banning the rearing certain species in cages.