EUROPEAN COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION TRENDS

Abstract

The common agricultural policy of the European Union for the period 2023-2027 aims to stop
environmental degradation and reverse it in favour of climate change mitigation, efficient use of
limited natural resources and biodiversity conservation. Agriculture in the European Union (EU) is
strongly influenced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). However, aligning agricultural
policy with nutrition is complex, primarily because the objectives of agricultural policy are
predominantly economic, which poses a challenge for developing coherence between agricultural,
trade and health policies. Today, the European food system is characterized by unhealthy dietary
trends, ecologically unsustainable production and dependence on an aging agricultural population.
Agricultural systems and food diets should be sustainable from an environmental and health point
of view, so increasing their sustainability must be a major objective of farm and food policies.
Unfortunately, climate, environmental and health shocks are likely to increase in the coming years.
Therefore, it is extremely important to favor a healthier and environmentally friendly diet through
changing consumer behavior through dietary recommendations and nutritional labels. The ongoing
reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) represents an opportunity to address these
issues. Recognizing the urgency of transitioning to sustainable food systems, European civil
society and other public interest organizations have shown consistent support and constructive
engagement in the Farm to Fork Strategy Plan. The aim of the paper is to point out the importance
of incorporating sustainable nutritional issues within the Common Agricultural Policy of the
European Union.