Why an EU framework for sustainable food is crucial for climate, biodiversity and competitiveness

The document advocates for the EU to introduce the Sustainable Food System legislative framework (SFSF) in 2023 as a cornerstone of the EU Green Deal. It argues that the SFSF is essential for strengthening food system resilience against climate shocks, reducing dependence on imported animal feed and fossil-based fertilisers, and establishing high environmental and health standards that provide a competitive advantage for EU agrifood players in global markets. The authors contend that without a joined-up strategy for food consumption and production, the EU will struggle to meet its climate, biodiversity, and zero pollution goals, as well as its international commitments regarding embedded carbon and deforestation.

• The Sustainable Food System legislative framework (SFSF) is presented as a necessary tool to transition the EU from being a net importer of calories to a net exporter by reducing reliance on fossil-based fertilisers and imported animal feed, while promoting sustainable diets.
• The authors argue that EU competitiveness should be based on value and high standards rather than output volumes, suggesting that the SFSF can define standards for whole food chains to create a competitive advantage for European players.
• Diversification of production systems is identified as a key strategy for resilience against climate shocks, biological threats such as zoonotic diseases, and economic shocks, contrasting this with a strategy of marginal adjustments to industrial farming.
• The SFSF is described as critical for the coherence of the EU Green Deal, as it addresses the embedded carbon in food and feed imports and is necessary for the EU to meet its international commitments on climate and deforestation.

APA

Allen, B., Treyer, S., Bausch, C., Nilsson, M., Müller, A., Sánchez, M. J. S., Christopoulou, I., Dostál, V., & Orsini, R. (2022). Why an EU framework for sustainable food is crucial for climate, biodiversity and competitiveness. Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/en/2022/10/why-an-eu-framework-for-sustainable-food-is-crucial-for-climate-biodiversity-and-competitiveness/

Chicago

Allen, Ben, Sébastien Treyer, Camilla Bausch, Måns Nilsson, Alexander Müller, María José Sanz Sánchez, Ioli Christopoulou, Vít Dostál, and Raimondo Orsini. Why an EU framework for sustainable food is crucial for climate, biodiversity and competitiveness. Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2022. https://www.bc3research.org/en/2022/10/why-an-eu-framework-for-sustainable-food-is-crucial-for-climate-biodiversity-and-competitiveness/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Allen |first1=Ben |last2=Treyer |first2=Sébastien |last3=Bausch |first3=Camilla |last4=Nilsson |first4=Måns |last5=Müller |first5=Alexander |last6=Sánchez |first6=María José Sanz |last7=Christopoulou |first7=Ioli |last8=Dostál |first8=Vít |last9=Orsini |first9=Raimondo |title=Why an EU framework for sustainable food is crucial for climate, biodiversity and competitiveness |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=5 October 2022 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/en/2022/10/why-an-eu-framework-for-sustainable-food-is-crucial-for-climate-biodiversity-and-competitiveness/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{allen2022why, author = {Allen, Ben and Treyer, Sébastien and Bausch, Camilla and Nilsson, Måns and Müller, Alexander and Sánchez, María José Sanz and Christopoulou, Ioli and Dostál, Vít and Orsini, Raimondo}, title = {{Why an EU framework for sustainable food is crucial for climate, biodiversity and competitiveness}}, publisher = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/en/2022/10/why-an-eu-framework-for-sustainable-food-is-crucial-for-climate-biodiversity-and-competitiveness/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }