In Ursula von der Leyen’s 2023 State of the European Union address, the focus on sustainable food systems has been notably absent, causing concern among environmental advocates. While the president addressed various topics such as the economy, global competition, and support for Ukraine, there was little mention of the Green Deal objectives and transitioning to sustainable food systems outlined in the Farm to Fork Strategy.
The omission of sustainable food systems in the speech has been criticized by environmental advocates, who believe that President von der Leyen prioritized industrial interests and competitiveness over addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. The exclusion of crucial laws needed to achieve the Green Deal objectives has raised alarm bells among advocates who worry that the focus on sustainable food systems is being neglected in favor of other priorities.
The Sustainable Food Systems Framework Law, a flagship initiative of the Farm to Fork Strategy, was expected to be mentioned in the speech but was not. This has disappointed organizations like ClientEarth and Slow Food, who stress the importance of transitioning to sustainable food systems in addressing climate change, public health, and biodiversity crises. They hope that future programs will explicitly feature sustainable farming and that the president will not yield entirely to the demands of the agro-industry.
Members of the cellular agriculture and fermentation-derived foods sector also expressed their concerns about the omission of the Sustainable Food Systems Framework Law. They believe that it is critical in creating the necessary conditions for a just and profitable transition for both conventional and innovative agri-food sectors. They urged the EC President to be wary of false dichotomies and emphasized that meeting climate goals and supporting rural parts of the EU are not mutually exclusive.
Another area of concern is animal welfare, which was not mentioned in the address despite being considered integral to the Farm to Fork strategy. Particularly, the ban on caged farming for certain animals, which was supported by major food companies and citizens, was not addressed. Animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming believes that the ban has been shelved, and this has raised accusations of betrayal and a lack of commitment to improving animal welfare. The Commission has not provided further details regarding its plans for stricter animal welfare measures.
Overall, the omission of sustainable food systems and the ban on caged farming in President von der Leyen’s address has raised concerns about the Commission’s commitment to environmental and animal welfare issues. Advocates hope that these issues will be addressed in future programs and that the Commission will prioritize a sustainable and ethical approach to food production and consumption.