Building on the 2024 report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, the document provides high-level recommendations based on 4 priority areas:
- An attractive sector
- A competitive and resilient sector
- A future-proof sector
- Fair living and working conditions in rural areas
Whilst the Communication does not include any concrete legislative proposals, it highlights potential future policies and changes to legislation, alongside impact assessments, evaluations and task forces.
An attractive sector
The Commission would like to make farming a viable and attractive career for future generations. Several recommendations are made to attract young people to the profession.
To ensure a more equitable supply chain, the Commission will seek to revise the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive to prevent farmers from being forced to sell below production costs. Additionally, farmers are encouraged to join cooperatives, enabling them to lower costs, improve efficiency, and negotiate better prices. Through continuation of the EU Agrifood Chain Observatory (AFCO), transparency in pricing will be improved and the publishing of data on cost structures and profit distribution across the food chain will continue.
The Communication reaffirms the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a key tool for supporting farmers' incomes, with payments expected to be maintained. However, CAP reforms will simplify and better target support, prioritising active farmers, those in disadvantaged areas, young and new entrants, and mixed farms. Measures such as degressive payments and capping will be explored, alongside a shift from conditionality-based support toward a more incentive-driven approach. However, the Communication does not mention the CAP budget.
Recognising that young farmers face major barriers, the Commission will introduce a Generational Renewal Strategy by 2025, offering policy recommendations at EU, national, and regional levels. Additionally, the launch of an EU Observatory on Farmland will enhance transparency in land transactions, land-use transfers, price trends, and the loss of agricultural and natural land, ensuring a more secure and accessible farming landscape for future generations.
A competitive and resilient sector
In this section, the Commission outlines its ambition to ensure that all imported products are produced to the same standards as in the EU. To do this, the Commission will present its ‘line of action’ on deepening reciprocity so that the European agri-food sector is not at a competitive disadvantage without corresponding reciprocity.
For pesticides, the Commission will establish a principle that the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons are not allowed back to the EU through imported products. The Commission will launch an impact assessment on this later this year.
The Commission will also seek stronger alignment of animal welfare standards for imported products.
Reducing dependence on third-country imports is another priority for the Commission, particularly for fertilisers, animal feed, and energy. The EU will introduce a protein supply strategy to enhance self-sufficiency and will reinforce its focus on livestock farming, securing the long-term future of the sector.
A future-proof sector
The Communication recognises the importance of a resilient agri-food sector and the interdependence of food production and ecosystems.
Recognising the sector’s unique challenges, the Commission will explore pathways for agriculture to contribute to climate targets while maintaining competitiveness, food security, and a strong bioeconomy, in collaboration with farmers and Member States. To enhance resilience and create new income opportunities, the Commission supports nature-based solutions but acknowledges that the growing number of sustainability standards and reporting requirements has caused confusion. To address this, a voluntary on-farm sustainability benchmarking system will be introduced to help farmers navigate and improve their environmental performance.
Ensuring that agriculture and nature work in harmony requires better implementation and enforcement of existing laws, particularly regarding plant protection products. While pesticide reduction remains a priority, future bans will be assessed based on available alternatives, unless a pesticide poses an immediate risk to human health or environmental viability. In addition, as part of the simplification package, the Commission will put forward a proposal to accelerate the access for biopesticides, and EFSA will be given additional resources.
To support soil and water sustainability, the Commission will incentivise and support practises that recover, maintain or improve soil health, while for water, a Water Resilience Strategy will be presented. This will address efficient water use, pollution reduction, and over-abstraction. Additionally, an evaluation of the Nitrates Directive will be presented by the end of 2025.
Fair living and working conditions in rural areas
The aging demographic of farmers and lack of generational renewal is a key issue across the EU. The Commission will come forward with an updated Rural Action Plan to ensure that rural areas remain vibrant, functional, and deeply linked to the EU's cultural and natural heritage. The rural proofing principle will also be utilised, alongside local development tools including LEADER. To attract more women to the sector, a Women in Farming platform will be launched.
Valuing food is another key aspect. An annual Food Dialogue will also be launched with a broad range of actors and the Commission will launch a study on the impact of consumption of ‘ultra-processed foods’ and will put forward a legal proposal to strengthen the role of public procurement.
The emerging issue of cultivated meat is growing in the EU. In the Communication, the Commission recognises that cultivated meat may be a threat to traditions and food culture. An enhanced dialogue is required to ensure that innovations are assessed in an inclusive way that also considers social, ethical, economic, environmental and cultural aspects.
The Commission will look to address societal expectations, including presenting proposals on revision of animal welfare legislation and the commitment to phase out cages. This will be based on the latest scientific evidence and socio-economic impact on farmers, with appropriate transition periods. The Commission will also consider introducing animal welfare labelling.
Recognising that digitalisation is paramount to the sector, the priority will be to ensure connectivity in rural areas. Investing in digital skills and training is also key. The Commission will seek to ensure a ‘collect once, use multiple times’ principle to data collection from farmers, and an EU digital strategy for agriculture will be launched to enable the transition to a digital-ready and future-oriented farming and food sector.
The Communication emphasises the need for faster and broader dissemination of agricultural innovations. Regulatory barriers are a key challenge and co-creation of knowledge through living laboratories is highlighted as essential. A new strategic approach to research and innovation is proposed to enhance agricultural competitiveness, align investments with scientific progress, and strengthen partnerships both within the EU and globally. Additionally, the document stresses the importance of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in plant breeding and agricultural biotechnology, advocating for a swift legislative framework to keep the EU competitive in global agricultural innovation.