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Brussels, |
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Farm to Fork: the EU sustainable food system
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In May 2020, the European Commission launched the Farm to Fork strategy COM(2020) 381 final, with the aim of making food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly. Food systems cannot be resilient to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic if they are not sustainable.
For this and other reasons, like climate change, the Commission considered necessary to redesign the food systems, which today represent almost a third of global GHG emissions, consume large quantities of natural resources, cause biodiversity loss and can have a negative impact on health(due to both under and overnourishment) and do not allow equitable economic returns and means of subsistence for all actors, in particular for primary producers.
Putting food systems on a sustainable path also brings new opportunities for operators in the food value chain. New technologies and scientific breakthroughs, coupled with growing public awareness and demand for sustainable food, will benefit all stakeholders:
For this and other reasons, like climate change, the Commission considered necessary to redesign the food systems, which today represent almost a third of global GHG emissions, consume large quantities of natural resources, cause biodiversity loss and can have a negative impact on health(due to both under and overnourishment) and do not allow equitable economic returns and means of subsistence for all actors, in particular for primary producers.
Putting food systems on a sustainable path also brings new opportunities for operators in the food value chain. New technologies and scientific breakthroughs, coupled with growing public awareness and demand for sustainable food, will benefit all stakeholders:
- have a neutral or positive environmental impact
- help to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts
- reverse the loss of biodiversity
- ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, sustainable food
- preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns, fostering competitiveness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade
The 2020 Farm to Fork Strategy announced a number of legislative follow-upsand their outcomes were mixed: some were adopted, some remain ongoing, and some never reached the formal proposal stage.
Here the legislative actions:
1) Sustainable Food Systems Framework
The strategy announced a new horizontal legislative framework on sustainable food systems. However, this initiative did not progress to a formal Commission proposal on EUR-Lex, so it was not adopted. In practice, the file stalled before the ordinary legislative procedure could begin. The original commitment appears in the Farm to Fork strategy itself: .
2) Revision of the Food Information to Consumers framework
The Farm to Fork Strategy announced a future revision of EU food information rules, including mandatory harmonised front-of-pack nutrition labelling, nutrient profiles, wider origin labelling and revised date-marking rules. However, this broader reform was not ultimately adopted as a horizontal amendment to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. While some sector-specific changes were later adopted, such as Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 for certain wine products, the main Farm to Fork revision of the FIC framework did not result in a final legislative act.
3) Food waste reduction targets
This is one of the Farm to Fork files that did reach adoption. The strategy announced action on food waste, and the EU later adopted Directive (EU) 2025/1892, signed on 10 September 2025, amending the Waste Framework Directive and introducing stronger food-waste provisions.
4) “Breakfast Directives” revision
The strategy also foreshadowed a revision of certain marketing standards and composition rules for food products. This was adopted as Directive (EU) 2024/1438 on 14 May 2024, amending several so-called “Breakfast Directives” on honey, fruit juices, jams, dehydrated milk and similar products.
5) Sustainable use of pesticides
The Farm to Fork strategy announced legislation to support the pesticide-reduction target. The Commission then tabled COM(2022) 305 final – Proposal for a Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products. However, this proposal was withdrawn by the Commission in 2024.
6) New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)
Although not the most central element of the original 2020 communication, this became part of the wider Green Deal / Farm to Fork legislative track. The Commission proposed COM(2023) 411 final – Proposal on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed on 5 July 2023. The legislative process is still ongoing.
7) Animal welfare legislation
Farm to Fork also announced a revision of EU animal welfare rules. On 7 December 2023, the Commission presented at least two relevant proposals: COM(2023) 770 final – protection of animals during transport and COM(2023) 769 final – welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. Both files are ongoing.
Here the legislative actions:
1) Sustainable Food Systems Framework
The strategy announced a new horizontal legislative framework on sustainable food systems. However, this initiative did not progress to a formal Commission proposal on EUR-Lex, so it was not adopted. In practice, the file stalled before the ordinary legislative procedure could begin. The original commitment appears in the Farm to Fork strategy itself: .
2) Revision of the Food Information to Consumers framework
The Farm to Fork Strategy announced a future revision of EU food information rules, including mandatory harmonised front-of-pack nutrition labelling, nutrient profiles, wider origin labelling and revised date-marking rules. However, this broader reform was not ultimately adopted as a horizontal amendment to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. While some sector-specific changes were later adopted, such as Regulation (EU) 2021/2117 for certain wine products, the main Farm to Fork revision of the FIC framework did not result in a final legislative act.
3) Food waste reduction targets
This is one of the Farm to Fork files that did reach adoption. The strategy announced action on food waste, and the EU later adopted Directive (EU) 2025/1892, signed on 10 September 2025, amending the Waste Framework Directive and introducing stronger food-waste provisions.
4) “Breakfast Directives” revision
The strategy also foreshadowed a revision of certain marketing standards and composition rules for food products. This was adopted as Directive (EU) 2024/1438 on 14 May 2024, amending several so-called “Breakfast Directives” on honey, fruit juices, jams, dehydrated milk and similar products.
5) Sustainable use of pesticides
The Farm to Fork strategy announced legislation to support the pesticide-reduction target. The Commission then tabled COM(2022) 305 final – Proposal for a Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products. However, this proposal was withdrawn by the Commission in 2024.
6) New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)
Although not the most central element of the original 2020 communication, this became part of the wider Green Deal / Farm to Fork legislative track. The Commission proposed COM(2023) 411 final – Proposal on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed on 5 July 2023. The legislative process is still ongoing.
7) Animal welfare legislation
Farm to Fork also announced a revision of EU animal welfare rules. On 7 December 2023, the Commission presented at least two relevant proposals: COM(2023) 770 final – protection of animals during transport and COM(2023) 769 final – welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. Both files are ongoing.
