Farm to Fork 2020 conference - Building sustainable food systems together

Farm to Fork 2020 conference - Building sustainable food systems together

Thursday 15 - Friday 16 October
live streaming available

The 'Farm to Fork' conference, scheduled on 15 and 16 October 2020 (World Food Day), is the first in what will be an annual gathering of European stakeholders willing to engage and help shape the EU's path towards sustainable food systems.

Stakeholders across the food value chain, public authorities, international and civil society organisations, as well as other citizens and the interested public are invited to join the debate and contribute to the implementation of the recently adopted Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, which is at the heart of the European Green Deal. The event will also provide a forum for discussion on the challenges and opportunities linked to the transition to sustainable food systems, as well as on possible further areas of intervention.

The 'Farm to Fork' conference will be a virtual event and participants will be able to contribute to the discussion online and meet speakers through virtual networking opportunities.

Registration for the conference is not yet available.

Agenda
DAY 1, Thursday 15 October 2020

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome and opening remarks

09:10 – 09:25

Opening remarks by European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans

09:25 - 10:05

Opening Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and interactive Q&A session

10:05 - 10:10

Short break with video testimonials

10:10 – 10:25

International keynote speaker: achieving global transition to sustainable food systems

10:25 – 10:30

Short break with video testimonials

10:30 - 12:00

Working together to transform our food systems
An interactive session of debate with high-level actors from the public and private sectors including Ms. Julia Klöckner, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Germany, MEP Anja Hazekamp and MEP Herbert Dorfmann

12:00- 12:05

Short break with video highlights from day 1

12:05 - 12:10

Closing remarks

12:30 – 14:00

Virtual networking sessions

DAY 2, Friday 16 October 2020 (World Food Day)

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome back

09:10 – 09:40

In focus: how reshaping the EU food system can start in our kitchen

09:40 – 09:45

Short break with video testimonials

09:45 – 10:15

Consumer attitudes and views on sustainable food systems
Presentation and launch of new Eurobarometer findings

10:15 – 10:20

Short break with video testimonials

10:20 – 11:30

Parallel thematic workshops

Session 1: Building an EU legislative framework for sustainable food systems
What are the building blocks for such a framework? An interactive debate between public and private sector actors involved in systemic initiatives to promote food sustainability. Experts in governance, Member State and food industry representatives will discuss the essential components of an EU legislative framework and how it can accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems.

Session 2: Economic opportunities for farmers
What are promising green business opportunities for farmers? The session will discuss concrete opportunities, as well as challenges, that the transition to sustainable food systems encompasses for farmers and how they can benefit from the higher standards that will apply at the farm through higher returns. The session will highlight and discuss examples of sustainable farming practices.

Session 3: Helping consumers choose healthy diets from sustainable food systems and reduce food waste
How can we help consumers choose healthy diets and reduce food waste? The session will focus on how the food environment and food information can help consumers make better food choices for their health and for the planet. Speakers will debate consumers' expectations regarding food sustainability and the drivers of consumer behaviour in this regard, effectiveness of labelling schemes as well as opportunities for action for food businesses and public authorities to help consumers choose more sustainable diets.

Session 4: New knowledge and innovation solutions for sustainable farming
How can we support farmers to innovate sustainably? This session will discuss the best ways to implement Research and Innovation activities and maximise the impact of advisory services to speed up the transition to sustainable food systems from farm to fork. Successful Horizon 2020 projects and/or concrete solutions to deliver on the Farm to Fork targets/objectives will be showcased.

11:30 – 11:40

Short break with video highlights from Day 2

11:40 – 12:15

Closing Speeches by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides and European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski

Partner Event

12:15 – 14:30

Food 2030 - Transforming food systems through Research & Innovation

Event by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and the German EU presidency.

This online event – on World Food Day - brings together researchers, innovators, policy makers, stakeholders and civil society for a high level discussion on the transition to sustainable food systems, and more specifically, on the key role of research and innovation therein. The programme will address R&I's contribution to innovating food systems and their governance, and include testimonials by the next generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs.

More details

Source: European Commission