[ Access now the conferences agenda ]
Dear colleague,
We are delighted to welcome you to the 1 st Forum on the Future of Agriculture which we hope will create an environment in which the main challenges facing the sector can be addressed and the necessary responses understood, discussed and agreed.
Post World War II, agriculture in Europe was clearly focussed on the need to produce in order to meet food shortages. But as the rewards of a production oriented system met this objective, concern rightly increased about the impact on the environment. Beginning in the 1970s, there has been a progressive effort to ensure that the environmental impact of farming in Europe is addressed to ensure better use of natural resources, improve sustainability and to promote biodiversity.
At the start of the 21 st Century, it is clear that global agriculture will need to provide for a growing population, accommodate changing dietary patterns (particularly in the developing world), enhance quality, and to help reduce GHG emissions. At the same time, the productive capacity of global agriculture will be affected by climate change. Europe will not be immune from these changes and this summer’s extreme weather – hot dry weather in the south and warm wet weather in the north – has already demonstrated that agricultural production can and will be impacted.
This has given rise to fierce arguments on whether it is food or environmental security which ought to be the priority, or whether we can have both? We hope that today’s event will be able to provide some answers to this question and to catalyse the development of a consensus on the objectives for European agriculture in the 21 st Century which will guide politicians, regulators, agri-food industry, NGOs and consumers, in creating a sustainable farming system in Europe which meets our needs and those of the world.
We hope that you will enjoy hearing from our distinguished speakers, debating the issues and connecting with people who represent a variety of different views on this subject.
Thank you for your participation and enjoy the conference.
 |
 |
 |
|
FRANZ FISCHLER |
THIERRY DE L’ESCAILLE Secretary General European Landowners’ Organisation |
BERNARD GRACIET |