Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my honour to join you at the WORLD EXPO DUBAI and to introduce today’s conference.
First of all, I would like express my warm thanks to my colleague, Commissioner Kyriakides, who kindly agreed to launch this Conference with me, despite the fact that her schedule did not allow her to travel.
I am grateful to be here in person, to exchange directly with my fellow speakers and with you in the audience.
As you know, we are in the middle of the week dedicated to “Agriculture and Livelihoods”.
To me, this is a very fitting title. It reminds us that agriculture supports our livelihoods; not only our farmers and their families, but every one of us across society: our everyday lives rest on a secure supply of safe and nutritious food.
Our food and farming is more than just a sector of the economy; it is a way of life.
If we want to continue this way of life, then we cannot continue with “business as usual”.
The United Nations Food Systems Summit has made it very clear that we need bold actions to transform the ways we produce, process and consume food across the world.
In the European Union, we have developed a clear roadmap with the Farm to Fork Strategy, which is at the heart of our European Green Deal.
From the beginning, let me say that the Farm-to-Fork Strategy is a Strategy of cooperation. The EU stands ready to cooperate with all countries who want to work towards sustainable food systems.
Together, we must work for global food systems that are environmentally sustainable: that have a neutral or positive climate impact; that work with natural resources, not against them; and reverse the loss of biodiversity;
We must work for systems that are socially sustainable: that ensure food security and public health, making sure that everyone has access to sufficient levels of nutrition;
And finally, we must work for food systems that are economically sustainable: that preserve the affordability of food, and also generate rewarding incomes for farmers, foster competitiveness, and promote fair trade.
To achieve each of these goals, research and innovation will be crucial.
That is why I am extremely happy to be here today, to discuss with you how we can use research and innovation to create modern and sustainable food systems together: through Green Alliances and research initiatives at the highest levels, as well as innovative projects and nature-based solutions that we can put in place on the ground.
With this in mind, I thank you for your attention, and I look forward to our discussion.
