This week, Valentina Chanina, Secretary General of EfVET, attended Euronews HQ’s discussion on the realities of European farming in Brussels. The event explored the practical side of agriculture, providing a clear picture of the sector and prospects for European farmers.
The event was opened by Gerardo Fortuna (Euronews Journalist) who highlighted that the event was an important piece of the path to address key stakeholders of the agricultural lawmaking in Brussels.
The session featured an exclusive on-stage interview with Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. Hansen highlighted that the concerns from the farmers went beyond the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). There will be a second simplification by the end of the year, focused on other areas as well, as he explained, it is not an agricultural matter but an environmental one.
The Farmers are multi-talented because they are required to have different skills, from financial and chemical skills to entrepreneurial and biological skills. Most of the farmers are capable of using digital tools for different things such as precision farming, GPS tracking, and so on.
The event concluded with a dynamic panel discussion, where speakers reflected on the sustainability path and the green ambition of the EU. Together, the panellists examined challenges involved in its implementation, the environmental pillar of sustainability, farming regulations, climate change and how to make farming an exciting profession across sectors and regions.
Lastly, Ms. Elli Tsiforou (Secretary General, Copa-Cogeca), highlighted that the path towards the transition is only secure when we provide farmers with enough adequate solution in terms of knowledge and innovation. Jens Hartmann (Chair CropLife Europe), as conclusion, highlighted that “In other words, the approach must be incentive-driven, straightforward, and focused on fostering innovation, providing a practical toolbox for advancing sustainable agriculture”.