The Green REV Institute addressed decision-makers on the priorities of the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which starts in January 2025. This is an important time to talk about safe food and food security.

The position paper was supported by the Future Food 4 Climate Coalition and the scientific community. The position paper provided the following recommendations:

‘I Sustainable Food Systems Law (SFS Law)’.

Under the Polish Presidency, we call for a renewed initiative to work on an EU sustainable food system to ensure better resource management and environmental protection.

II Protecting the rights of people living in the vicinity of industrial farms

We call for urgent action under the upcoming Polish Presidency:

Update EU legislation on: the distance of farms from places of human life and activity and the concentration of farms;

Strengthen control of the implementation and application of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
in the Member States;

Promptly propose an amendment by the European Commission to Directive 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants to establish emission reduction targets, including for ammonia produced by farms, necessary to guarantee the right to health, a clean environment and family life.

III Tackling food poverty

As part of the Polish Presidency, we propose the establishment of a European expert panel, bringing together experts from the fields of science, civil society organisations, health care and environmental protection. The result should be a White Paper assessing the impact of the animal agriculture sector on the lives of EU citizens, particularly in rural areas. Particular attention should be paid to the problem of antibiotic misuse in livestock production.

IV Support for new forms of food production

As part of the Polish Presidency, we recommend initiating work on a European strategy for the development of the plant-based industry, including modification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to provide financial support for this segment of the European economy.

V Food education in European schools

We propose an initiative to modify the School Vegetables, Fruit and Milk Scheme (EU School Scheme, Common Agricultural Policy) by adding plant-based alternatives to milk and dairy products. We call for the initiation of legal solutions to guarantee the right to plant-based meals in schools and other educational establishments. In addition, we call for the implementation of the ‘From farm to fork’ programme at the level of educational institutions, which involves the cooperation of schools with local food producers, farmers.’

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