It is a strategy created to ensure European Union countries' safe and sustainable access to healthy food. It covers the entire life process from the first formation of foods in the soil to their consumption by humans.
Especially with 2020 Covid19 and the 2022 Ukraine-Russia War, we have once again seen how valuable it is to reach healthy food in addition to physical access to food.
In addition, in our world, whose population and population density are constantly increasing, the importance of healthy and safe access to food in terms of countries' economic and political security is rising daily.
The European Union has implemented the Farm-to-Form (F2F) strategy to minimize the abovementioned risks. The issue here is to ensure sustainable access to healthy food rather than improving food quality.
Benefits
Freshness and Taste
Support local agriculture
Environmental sustainability
Healthy eating
What needs to be done for the success of the strategy;
Expanding access to clean water resources.
In areas without clean water resources, agricultural and livestock productivity will decrease significantly.
Expanding access to low-cost energy.
Energy costs are essential inputs for healthy food production.
To ensure close cooperation between all stakeholders.
Ensuring the fair distribution of the benefit/cost relationship between all the chain links is vital for the continuity of agriculture and livestock activities.
To reduce the negative impact on the environment.
For sustainability, it is necessary not to damage the soil and water resources.
To facilitate adaptation to the effects of climate change.
Precautionary measures should be taken against climate changes in the regions.
Mitigate the decline of biodiversity
Reduction in the number of bees,
Loss of water basins,
Etc.
Increasing food security
Increasing traceability (Label, etc.)
Prevention of theft and manipulation in Supply Chain processes
Reducing economic barriers to access to food.
tates to use their political and economic means to reach large masses of essential food products at low prices.
Reducing physical barriers to access to food.
Global and regional events such as Covid19 and the Ukraine-Russia War have made accessing grain and other essential food products challenging.
Protecting the health of the soil and animals.
Preventing the use of unhealthy fertilizers
Preventing irregular farming
Protection of animal health (Mad Cow, bird flu, etc.)
Reducing the carbon footprint along the food chain.
Reducing the carbon footprint along the supply chain will ensure sustainable food access in countries in the long run.
Goals
Increasing organic agriculture (to exceed 25% in the EU in 2030)
Reducing the use of fertilizers (reduced by 20% in the EU in 2030)
Reducing food waste (50% reduction in EU by 2030)
Reduction of pesticides (50% reduction in EU by 2030)
European Green Deal
The Green Deal, a policy initiative proposed by the European Union (EU) and announced in 2019, reflects the EU's commitment to tackling climate change and transitioning to a sustainable economy. It aims to encourage the EU to be carbon neutral by 2050 and promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Green Alliance
Established in 1979, the Green Alliance is a UK-based environmental think tank that works to improve UK environmental policies and promote policy change for a sustainable future.
Researches the environment and sustainability,
Provides policy recommendations,
It raises public awareness.
The organization aims to understand environmental issues better and produce solutions by promoting cooperation and dialogue between the public sector, businesses, and civil society.
Negatives
High costs of processes.
Decreased yield compared to traditional agriculture.
Strategy faces trade barriers as the EU aims to reduce imports.
Inability of small-scale manufacturers to meet the requirements of the system.
Problems arising from the necessity of a healthy operation of the supply chain.
References
