Small farms make up the vast majority of the EU's 10 million farms. Recent studies have lowered past estimates of how much of the global food supply is produced by small farms. Notwithstanding the complex nature of such estimates and the possible under-estimation of small operators' production because of self consumption, it is clear that small farms allocate larger shares of their production to food and have a more diversified produce portfolio than larger farms. In addition to producing food, small farms are typically associated with protecting landscape features and biodiversity and the notion of providing public goods.

EPRS policy podcast - Small farms' role in the EU food system

Launched in 1962, the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers. It aims to: support farmers and improve agricultural productivity, ensuring a stable supply of affordable food; safeguard European Union farmers to make a reasonable living; help tackle climate change and the sustainable management of natural resources; maintain rural areas and landscapes across the EU; keep the rural economy alive by promoting jobs in farming, agri-food industries and associated sectors.

The CAP is a common policy for all EU countries. It is managed and funded at European level from the resources of the EU’s budget. CAP 2023-27 To consolidate the role of European agriculture for the future, the CAP has evolved over the years to meet changing economic circumstances and citizens’ requirements and needs.

The CAP 2023-27 entered into force on 1 January 2023.&nbsp;Support for farmers and rural stakeholders across the 27 EU countries is based on the CAP 2023-27 legal framework and the choices detailed in the&nbsp;CAP Strategic Plans, approved by the Commission. The approved Plans are designed to make a significant contribution to the ambitions of the&nbsp;European Green Deal,&nbsp;Farm to Fork Strategy&nbsp;and&nbsp;Biodiversity Strategy.

Common agricultural policy (CAP)

Launched on 20 May 2020, the 'Farm to Fork' strategy put forward the EU’s ambition for making its food system a model of sustainability at all stages of the food value chain.

This strategy is at the heart of the Green Deal. It addresses comprehensively the challenges of sustainable food systems and recognises the inextricable links between healthy people, healthy societies and a healthy planet. Ensuring a sustainable livelihood for primary producers, who still lag behind in terms of income, is essential for the success of the recovery and the transition.

The Farm to Fork strategy aims to accelerate our transition to a sustainable food system that should have neutral and positive environmental impact, help mitigate climate change and adapt to its impact. It should also reverse the loss of biodiversity, ensure food security, nutrition and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe nutritious, sustainable food, preserve affordability of food while generating fairer economic returns, fostering competitivness of the EU supply sector and promoting fair trade.

A shift to a sustainable food system can bring environmental, health and social benefits, offer economic gains and ensure that the recovery from the crisis puts us onto a sustainable path.

Farm to fork

Press conference - Geographical indications for wine and agri products

Press conference on Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products

EP Plenary session - Debate - Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products

Press conference on European Union geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products.

EP Plenary session - Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products

EP Plenary session - The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector

ENVI - AGRI joint Committee - ' Farm to Fork strategy -  impact on agriculture and food systems '

EP Plenary session - A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system

Farm to fork strategy on sustainable food

ENVI-AGRI joint Committee - Public hearing ' Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system '- Q&A session with members

ENVI-AGRI joint Committee - Public hearing ' Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system ' - Opening session

MEPs vote on the following items: Rule of Law in Malta: 6 years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists; the European protein strategy - Wiesner; the Generational renewal in the EU farms of the future - Carvalhais

Voting session (part 2)

The common agricultural policy (CAP) has three clear environmental goals, which are echoed in the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy: tackling climate change, protecting natural resources and enhancing biodiversity. These goals are supported by the CAP’s promotion of organic farming and the responsible management of inputs like pesticides and fertilisers. The CAP aims to reach its environmental goals in a way that is socially and economically sustainable for farmers and rural communities. This infoclip illustrates an example of a sustainable farm in Enghien, Belgium.

Infoclip: Sustainable agriculture

MEPs debate new rules on EU geographical indications to protect the quality of wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. They call for better online protection of registered agricultural products, avoid abuse of registered products used as ingredients and propose more rights and financial support for recognised producer groups. Extracts from the debate (31/05), extracts from the vote, and statement by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur.

Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products: extracts from the debate (31/05), extracts from the vote, and statement by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur

A press conference takes place to update on new rules on EU geographical indications to protect the quality of wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products and MEP's request for better online protection of registered agricultural products, avoid abuse of registered products used as ingredients and propose more rights and financial support for recognised producer groups. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Paolo de CASTRO (S&D, IT) rapporteur and Norbert LINS (EPP,DE) Chair of the AGRI Committee on European Union geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products

MEPs debate new rules on EU geographical indications to protect the quality of wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. They call for better online protection of registered agricultural products, avoid abuse of registered products used as ingredients and propose more rights and financial support for recognised producer groups. Closing statements by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture and by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur.

Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products: closing statements by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture and by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur

MEPs debate new rules on EU geographical indications to protect the quality of wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. They call for better online protection of registered agricultural products, avoid abuse of registered products used as ingredients and propose more rights and financial support for recognised producer groups.

Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products: MEPs debate

MEPs debate new rules on EU geographical indications to protect the quality of wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. They call for better online protection of registered agricultural products, avoid abuse of registered products used as ingredients and propose more rights and financial support for recognised producer groups. Opening statements by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur, by Adrián VÁZQUEZ LÁZARA (Renew, ES), JURI and by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture and by Danilo Oscar LANCINI (ID, IT), INTA. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and quality schemes for agricultural products: Opening statements by Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT), Rapporteur and Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture

MEPs debate the role of farmers in the green transition and how to ensure food security in Europe, especially in the light of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. First part of the debate.

The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate the role of farmers in the green transition and how to ensure food security in Europe, especially in the light of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The role of farmers as enablers of the green transition and a resilient agricultural sector: one round Political group leaders

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). This infoclip illustrates examples of modern agriculture in three different farms in Belgium, Poland and Spain. A Familly farm in Villers-le-Bouillet, Belgium, cultivating the land and raising livestock, a family farm cultivating grain in Minaya, in the region of Guadajara, Spain and a familly farm in Poland close to Tarnow, specialised in Soja.

Infoclip: 60 years of the CAP - modern agriculture examples (Belgium, Poland, Spain)

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). The Familly farm "Ferme de la Croix" in Villers-le-Bouillet / Fize-Fontaine is Established in the village for 5 generations cultivating the land and raising livestock. They try to adapt the agricultural practices to environmental challenges and animal welfare. They also diversified their production, opening their own butcher shop on the farm and producing artisanal pasta. This Infoclip illustrates: cattle on the field, feeding the cattle, harvesting, artisanal pasta production and butcher shop.

Infoclip: 60 years of the CAP - modern agriculture example (Belgium)

The need for an urgent EU Action Plan to ensure food security inside and outside the EU in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine emerged in the debate. This Infoclip illustrates the food chain, fields and harvests of corn, cereals, sunflowers, animal feed, shops and markets.

Infoclip: Food security inside the EU

MEPs debate and vote on plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. Extracts from the debate on Farm to fork strategy (Monday 18 October) and from the vote results (Wednesday 20 October).

Farm to Fork Strategy : extracts from the debate and from the final vote

Parliament present plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint: MEPs debate. MEPs are expected to welcome the Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, while underlining the importance of producing healthy, animal friendly, high quality and affordable diets to European consumers. They are expected to demand that farmers must earn a fair share of the profit from sustainably produced food. Second part of the debate.

A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: MEPs debate (part 2/2)

Parliament present plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. Closing statements by the co-rapporteurs, Anja HAZEKAMP (The Left, NL), Herbert DORFMANN (EPP, IT) and by Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health. MEPs are expected to welcome the Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, while underlining the importance of producing healthy, animal friendly, high quality and affordable diets to European consumers. They are expected to demand that farmers must earn a fair share of the profit from sustainably produced food.

A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: closing statements by Anja HAZEKAMP (The Left, NL), Herbert DORFMANN (EPP, IT), rapporteurs and by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health

Parliament present plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint: MEPs debate. MEPs are expected to welcome the Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, while underlining the importance of producing healthy, animal friendly, high quality and affordable diets to European consumers. They are expected to demand that farmers must earn a fair share of the profit from sustainably produced food. First part of the debate.

A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: MEPs debate (part 1/2)

Parliament present plans on how Europe can produce healthier food while ensuring food security, a fair income for farmers and reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. Opening statements by Anja HAZEKAMP (The Left, NL) and Herbert DORFMANN (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs, Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D,IT), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Benoît BITEAU (Greens/EFA, FR); Claude GRUFFAT (Greens/EFA, FR) and Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (Renew, ES). MEPs are expected to welcome the Farm to Fork strategy, presented by the Commission in May 2020, while underlining the importance of producing healthy, animal friendly, high quality and affordable diets to European consumers. They are expected to demand that farmers must earn a fair share of the profit from sustainably produced food. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: opening statements

Members of the EP Committee on Fisheries (PECH) vote on a Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system in the European Parlimament in Brussels. Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (Renew, ES), rapporteur, makes a statement after the final vote in the PECH Committee.

Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: final vote and statement by Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA (Renew, ES), rapporteur and extracts from the PECH meeting

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