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EU Adopts Measures for Sustainable Resource Use and Resilient Food Systems
On 27 June 2023, Environment committee of the European Parliament rejected the legislation on Nature Restoration. Then, a package of measures has been adopted by the European Commission to promote the sustainable use of key natural resources and strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming. The measures include a focus on soil monitoring and management, innovation in genomic techniques for climate-resilient crops, sustainable and diverse seeds and reproductive materials, and initiatives to reduce food and textile waste.
Brussels, 10 July 2023 - 3 MINUTES READ
The European Commission has announced a new package of measures aimed at promoting the sustainable use of key natural resources and strengthening the resilience of EU food systems and farming. The package includes a soil monitoring law that will gather data on soil health and make it available to farmers and soil managers. This law aims to put the EU on a pathway to healthy soils by 2050 and addresses issues such as soil contamination and erosion. This comes after EP committee on Environment rejected the Nature Restoration Regulation.
Here the Commission's Communication. and the legislative proposals:
The proposals also promote innovation and sustainability by enabling the safe use of new genomic techniques in developing climate-resilient crops and reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Additionally, the package focuses on ensuring more sustainable and diverse seeds and reproductive material for plants and forests.
In an effort to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency, the measures include initiatives to reduce food and textile waste. The goal is to achieve a 10% reduction in food waste by 2030 in the processing and manufacturing sector and a 30% reduction per capita at the retail and consumption level.
These measures are expected to bring long-term economic, social, health, and environmental benefits. They support people who directly rely on land and nature, contribute to prosperous rural areas, enhance food security, promote a resilient bioeconomy, drive innovation and development, and help address biodiversity loss and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The proposed legislation on soils aims to establish a harmonized definition of soil health, implement a comprehensive monitoring framework, and foster sustainable soil management and remediation of contaminated sites. The use of new genomic techniques will enable the development of more resilient and sustainable plant varieties. The regulations on plant and forest reproductive materials seek to increase diversity and quality, adapt to climate change pressures, and streamline registration and certification systems. Finally, efforts to reduce food and textile waste aim to enhance food security, save money, and reduce environmental impact.
The proposals will now undergo discussion and consideration by the European Parliament and the Council. These measures are part of the broader European Green Deal, which aims to transform society and the economy to achieve climate neutrality and uphold international commitments on climate and biodiversity.
More on EU policy on food....
Here the Commission's Communication. and the legislative proposals:
The proposals also promote innovation and sustainability by enabling the safe use of new genomic techniques in developing climate-resilient crops and reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Additionally, the package focuses on ensuring more sustainable and diverse seeds and reproductive material for plants and forests.
In an effort to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency, the measures include initiatives to reduce food and textile waste. The goal is to achieve a 10% reduction in food waste by 2030 in the processing and manufacturing sector and a 30% reduction per capita at the retail and consumption level.
These measures are expected to bring long-term economic, social, health, and environmental benefits. They support people who directly rely on land and nature, contribute to prosperous rural areas, enhance food security, promote a resilient bioeconomy, drive innovation and development, and help address biodiversity loss and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The proposed legislation on soils aims to establish a harmonized definition of soil health, implement a comprehensive monitoring framework, and foster sustainable soil management and remediation of contaminated sites. The use of new genomic techniques will enable the development of more resilient and sustainable plant varieties. The regulations on plant and forest reproductive materials seek to increase diversity and quality, adapt to climate change pressures, and streamline registration and certification systems. Finally, efforts to reduce food and textile waste aim to enhance food security, save money, and reduce environmental impact.
The proposals will now undergo discussion and consideration by the European Parliament and the Council. These measures are part of the broader European Green Deal, which aims to transform society and the economy to achieve climate neutrality and uphold international commitments on climate and biodiversity.
More on EU policy on food....
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Source: © European Union, 1995-2023
Source: © European Union, 1995-2023
