Presentation

European Commission D G Development

TOWARDS A EU AGRICULTURE TOWARDS A EU AGRICULTURE

AND FOOD SECURITY POLICYAND FOOD SECURITY POLICY

Brussels Rural Development Briefings

‘From Global Food Crisis to Local Food Insecurity’

9/12/2009


Structure of the presentationStructure of the presentation

Current approach and overview of existing instruments

Rationale of the proposed new policy

Goals and objectives

Possible areas of intervention

Implementation issues

Consultation process

Calendar for the proposed policy document


Reference documentsReference documents

Food Security Regulation (1292/1996)

Communication ‘Advancing the Food Security Agenda to Achieve MDGs’ (2006)

Food Security Thematic Strategy Paper 2007-2010 (2007)

Communication ‘Tackling the Challenges of rising food prices. Directions for EU actions’ (2008)


Main Main policypolicy lines lines

No longer simple delivery of food aid; but broad-based strategies at national, regional and global level focused on the objective of reaching Food Security for all.

Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development with the objective of supporting the most vulnerable and protecting livelihoods while improving crisis prevention

Addressing the four food security pillars : 1) availability, 2) access, 3) food quality and utilisation and 4) crisis management and prevention


Food Security is addressed by a set of complementaryfinancial instruments:

Emergency and immediate post-emergency (Hum. Instr.)

Transition/supra-national and horizontal aspects (FSTP)

Geographical instruments - longer term (e.g. EDF/ENPI)

Food Facility to respond to the food prices

crisis (2009-2011)

Food Security – Existing instrumentsFood Security – Existing instruments


Rationale for a ‘new’ EU policyRationale for a ‘new’ EU policy

Changes in the current international agriculture and food security context may require a coordinated EU response.

In view of the 2010 review of MDGs, the EU needs to reflect on how to continue supporting the progress towards achieving the MDGs targets

Challenges posed by climate change require a consistent policy response to focus investments and ensure that technologies, knowledge and capacity are accessible to farmers in developing countries.

It is timely to reflect on how the EU could best use its experience to support regional policies and strategic frameworks in agriculture and food security.


Rationale for a new EU policyRationale for a new EU policy (cont’d) (cont’d)

At present there is no food security policy framework in place at European Union level.

Need to reflect on added value of a ‘whole of Union’ approach in the area of agriculture and food security (Council Conclusions of 18 May 2009 on supporting developing countries in coping with the crisis)

Existing frameworks insufficiently address “new” issues in the food security agenda such as the impact of biofuels and new technologies on food production; the role of safety nets/social transfers in development cooperation etc.

There is a need for increasing the effectiveness of the EU food assistance on the ground.


Proposed goal and objectivesProposed goal and objectives

Overall goal: contributing to poverty eradication and pursuing the MDGs (esp. MDG 1) in the context of sustainable development.

Policy objective: increase food security in developing countries by addressing in a balanced way four pillars

1) increasing availability of food;

2) improving access to food;

3) improving food quality and its appropriate utilisation;

4) improving crisis prevention, preparedness and management.


Key challenges Key challenges

Food Availability

Inadequacy of national/regional policies Climate change impact Land availability (land degradation; other uses etc) Water scarcity Low productivity of crops/livestock systems etc

Access to Food

Physical access Economic access Social dimension of access


Key challenges (cont’d)Key challenges (cont’d)

Food Quality and appropriate utilisation of food

Effects of poor diets and malnutrition Interplay of different factors

Prevention and management of food crises

Price shocks and speculations on food commodity prices

Production shocks Food stocks/reserves Early warning systems


Possible areas of intervention

At the global level, improving the coherence of the international governance system.

At the European level, enhancing the effectiveness of EU action.

At the recipient level, supporting national and/or regional food security strategies.

In terms of Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development: better bridging the gap between short-term and long-term measures.


Implementation issuesImplementation issues

In-country coordination

Synergies, complementarity and division of labour between European Commission, EU MS, UN agencies etc

Coherence of different European policies

Synergies between existing financial instruments


Consultation processConsultation process

16 Nov – 9 Jan: web-based consultations on issues paper

http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/

Stakeholders consultations

Jan 2010 : EC feedback on the consultation process (published on Europa)


CalendarCalendar

Jan-Mar 2010: Drafting of the policy document

April 2010: Adoption by the Commission and transmission to EP and Council

May 2010: Council Conclusions

Presentation

Documents

Transcript of Presentation