Emerging Policies and Contradictions in the EU: A Fair, Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Food System by 2030

Within the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity and Farm-to-Fork strategies aim to combat biodiversity loss and foster a shift towards a sustainable food system by 2030. This text explores two controversies that emerged after their publication. Firstly, it delves into the academic debate surrounding the framings of food and the policy implications resulting from whether food is conceptualized as a commodity or a common good. Secondly, the war in Ukraine prompted controversial public debates on food security. While farmers and industry advocated for relaxing agroecological ambitions, thousands of scientists argued for maintaining them to ensure food security. These controversies can be seen as a litmus test for the resilience and adaptability of the Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The geopolitical crisis slowed but did not reverse the sustainability transition. In the next years, the ambition among EU member states' strategic plans will determine if the Common Agricultural Policy can serve as a pivotal lever for realizing the EU Green Deal's target of becoming the first climate-neutral continent.