The EU’s Farm to Fork strategy, a flagship initiative of the European Green Deal, marked a bold step towards creating sustainable food systems, combining environmental goals with socio-economic responsibility. Notably, its external dimension acknowledged the interconnectedness of global food markets and the importance of supporting sustainable practices worldwide. However, while the strategy set strong foundations for fairer and greener agri-food policies, its partial implementation has limited its potential impact. Strengthening and fully realising such initiatives is crucial to achieving a resilient food system that benefits producers, consumers, and the planet alike.

In the coming years, we hope to see EU agri-food policy prioritise living incomes for smallholder farmers and living wages for agricultural workers. Policies should foster fair trading practices that ensure transparency and equity throughout agri-food supply chains. Agroecological practices must be at the forefront, promoting sustainability and resilience in farming. With the upcoming Vision for Agriculture and Food, we call for comprehensive measures that address social and environmental dimensions, building a fairer, greener, and more inclusive food system for Europe and beyond.