In March 2023, the Forum for the Future of Agriculture published a Call to Action (CTA), centred around seven commitments, which we believe to be essential to building a more resilient and sustainable food and agriculture system which is both climate smart and nature positive.
Our first annual report on the Call to Action is designed to detail the activities we have undertaken as the Forum, and the progress made, over the past 12 months as well as looking ahead to the next year and beyond. The report features examples and illustrations of the work of the Forum and many of our partners across many areas of our Call to Action.
You can find out what the Forum and our partners are doing to support the commitments by either choosing each partner from the link below or browse down to each commitment to find examples.
Why did we launch the Call to Action?
Against a backdrop of squeezed farm incomes, the effects of a changing climate and loss of biodiversity, as well as continued challenges in access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food, the case for transitioning to a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system could not be stronger.
This is why we launched the Call to Action and, as we set out in our Madrid statement, we continue to support the leadership which the European Union has taken through the Green Deal as well as the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy and laws such as those on nature restoration and soil health. As we come to the end of the current mandate of the EU institutions, it remains important to make progress on realising these objectives.
Although it should not be used to stymie progress, it is essential that renewed dialogue takes place to ensure that any strategy, policy or law are as robust as possible, informed by science and data, and lead to the desired and necessary outcomes.
True sustainability can only be achieved by meeting human needs, food among them being a critical one, in the most energy and materially efficient way and by respecting the value of the eco-system.
It is important also to recognise that whilst Europe does not have a food security problem, at least when compared to other parts of the world, there are a number of very serious risks, with access to healthy and affordable food, biodiversity and extreme weather events, caused by a changing climate, foremost amongst them.
To succeed in meeting all these challenges then, farmers, who are at the centre of the transition, must have access to the best advice and information, innovation in both practices and technologies, and are able to take advantage of new opportunities to create or capture value that not only maintains but grows their incomes and businesses.
It is with this in mind that the Call to Action is catalysing the Forum to work together with our Partners and other stakeholders to not only progress against the seven commitments that we have laid out but also to expand the space for dialogue and constructive challenge. This will enable us together to develop the ideas and solutions which contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Green Deal and a more resilient, sustainable, climate smart and nature positive food and agriculture system.
The commitments
Call to Action Commitment 1 – Developing and scaling regenerative agriculture, in conjunction with similar approaches, underpinned by common metrics driving enhanced outcomes for productive and environmentally sustainable farming.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 1
Call to Action Commitment 2
Valuing and accounting for the use of natural capital, such as water, soil, air, and biodiversity, by the agri-food system
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment2
Call to Action commitment 3
Contributing to the development and alignment of public funding market-based incentives for nature restoration and delivery of other eco-system services.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 3
Call to Action commitment 4
Sharing knowledge and pursue innovation in technology and practices that support both food and environmental security and move away from those which don’t.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 4
Call to Action commitment 5
Integrating sustainability into supply chains and the global agri-food trade system, leaving no one behind.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 5
Call to Action commitment 6
Informing the development of more coherent agri-food policies at local, national, regional and global level and continue to build public and private partnerships for greater impact.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 6
Call to Action commitment 7
Enhancing consumer awareness of their role in building a more resilient and sustainable food and agriculture system.
Click below for examples of how the Forum and partners are supporting commitment 7
To find out more you can read the full Call to Action annual report using the links below.