Food: the (agri)cultural revolution

The document advocates for a 'cultural and social revolution' in food systems to replace the industrial agro-industry, which it links to environmental degradation and public health crises. It critiques the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for favoring large-scale production over small farmers and biodiversity. Through various regional case studies—including France's 'malbouffe' crisis, land-grabbing in Hungary, and organic farming in Spain—it promotes short supply chains, agro-ecology, and the reconnection of consumers with producers. It also highlights specific Green political initiatives in Belgium and Germany aimed at promoting organic and GMO-free agriculture.

• Agriculture is a significant driver of climate change, contributing to more than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale.
• The industrialization of the French food system has led to a health crisis termed 'malbouffe' (junk food), where the cost of diabetes care alone represents 0.8% of French GDP and obesity care represents 2% of GDP.
• In Hungary, 'land-grabbing' is driven by national oligarchs with ties to the political elite, leading to high land concentration where the average size of large estates is approximately 3,200 hectares, one of the largest in Europe.
• Spain is the leading EU Member State in land dedicated to organic farming, with 1,845,039 hectares in 2011, though 80% of this production is destined for export, primarily to other EU countries like Germany, France, and the UK.
• In Finland, the agricultural workforce has declined from approximately half of the workforce in the 1940s to fewer than 4% today, with the number of farms falling by over 50,000 in the 1990s.
• The Green-led government in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, has implemented a strategy to support farms switching from conventional to organic production and joined the European Network of GMO-free Regions on October 10, 2012.
• In Belgium, the Green party Ecolo has promoted 'sustainable food systems' in Brussels and Wallonia, including a 'sustainable canteen' project covering 65 canteens and the creation of a 'Short Supply Chain Centre' in Wallonia.
• Global food price shocks, particularly in 2007-08, revealed the vulnerability of developing countries that relied on world markets for food security while exporting commodities like coffee, cocoa, and cotton.
• The document argues that the current industrial agricultural model is unsustainable because the costs of inputs (oil, phosphates, and mineral fertilisers) rise faster than the prices of the cereals they produce.

APA

Green European Journal (2013). Food: the (agri)cultural revolution. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GEJ_Vol5.pdf

Chicago

Green European Journal. Food: the (agri)cultural revolution. 2013. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GEJ_Vol5.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green European Journal |title=Food: the (agri)cultural revolution |date=March 2013 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GEJ_Vol5.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneuropeanjournal2013food, author = {{Green European Journal}}, title = {{Food: the (agri)cultural revolution}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2013}, month = mar, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GEJ_Vol5.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }