EUFRAS takes part in a discussion at the European Economic and Social Committee on the resilience of the EU agri-food system

EUFRAS takes part in a discussion at the European Economic and Social Committee on the resilience of the EU agri-food system

Resilience in agriculture starts on farms. Knowledgeable farmers, skilled advisors and close cooperation between policymakers and sector representatives are essential to strengthening it.

/A. Dzelme/

On 7 October, EUFRAS took part in the public hearing “EU’s Agri-Food Strategic Resilience”, organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. The event focused on the resilience of the European Union’s agriculture and food systems and their ability to deal with crises. EUFRAS was represented by its Vice-Chairman, Anita Dzelme, who shared the organization’s views on the role of knowledge transfer and farm advisory services in managing crises.

The aim of the event was to bring together the experience of different organizations and institutions to support the preparation of an EESC opinion on the strategic resilience of the EU agri-food system. The discussions covered crisis preparedness at EU level, the experience of Member States and practical solutions to make sure that policy plans also work in everyday farming.

Speaking on behalf of EUFRAS, Anita Dzelme stressed that effective resilience in agriculture and food systems cannot be achieved through crisis plans, laws and strategic reserves alone. It is also important to make sure that farmers understand these solutions, trust them and can put them into practice on their farms.

Farm advisory services and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) play an important role in this process. They connect EU and national policy decisions with the real needs of farms. They help turn policy goals into practical solutions that also make economic sense for farmers.

Anita also highlighted that, from the EUFRAS point of view, resilience starts with identifying risks early and preparing them in advance. Advisors can help farms assess these risks, prepare action plans, plan backup energy supplies and reduce dependence on imported resources.

EUFRAS also highlighted the importance of economic planning when deciding how to invest in farm resilience. Farmers need to understand not only the technical benefits of a solution, but also its costs, possible savings and how long it will take for the investment to pay off.

Solutions that can help farms become more resilient include renewable energy, backup power systems, growing local protein crops and better nutrient management. To support farmers in putting these solutions into practice, advisors need up-to-date technical knowledge and the skills to calculate costs and benefits based on the needs of each farm.

To strengthen the link between EU-level goals and practical action on farms, EUFRAS called on European and national policymakers to focus on three priorities:

• Including farm advisory services in crisis management. Advisory services and AKIS structures should be part of EU and national crisis preparedness and response systems. Their practical knowledge of local conditions and farm needs can help improve crisis planning and response.

• Providing targeted training for advisors. Training programs should give advisors up-to-date knowledge about energy security, feed self-sufficiency, efficient use of resources and the economic resilience of farms.

• Investing in knowledge transfer for the long term. Farm advisory services and knowledge transfer systems should be recognized as an important part of a resilient European agri-food system, with suitable support and funding.

Anita Dzelme noted that taking part in the EESC public hearing highlighted the important role of farm advisory services in discussions about the future of European agriculture and food systems. Their work can help farmers prepare in advance, cooperate and make informed decisions, even in difficult situations.