A New Horizon for EU Agriculture: Farmers’ Voices, Pollinators’ Role, and the Future of Food

European agriculture is undergoing a moment of reckoning. Caught between rising environmental challenges - climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and economic pressures such as non-EU market dependency - and unfair global competition, farmers across the continent are demanding dignity, fairness, and a seat at the decision-making table.

The widespread farmers' protests in early 2024 marked a pivotal moment. These demonstrations triggered the European Commission’s decision to revise key targets in the Green Deal. A report by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, Fertile Ground for Disinformation, sheds light on how misinformation distorted the farmers’ movement, obscuring the genuine needs of agricultural communities. In reality, farmers were calling for: (1) practical solutions, (2) fair pricing for their produce and (3) greater support from government authorities.

EU Response to Farmers and New Global Challenges: the Agri-Food Vision

In May and June 2025, BeeLife took part in two major European Commission events focused on the future of agriculture and food policy. These gatherings aimed to address farmers’ concerns and outline a new vision that balances sustainability, competitiveness, and inclusivity.

The Conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food, held on 8 May in Brussels, brought together over 1,000 participants, comprising 40% Policymakers, 20% NGOs, 10% Farmers, as well as researchers, journalists, and other stakeholders in the food sector. Key points from the Commission included:

• Generation Renewal: Incentives to support young people in farming.

• Regulatory Simplification: Making policies more accessible and actionable.

• Fairer Trade Rules: Tighter standards on imports, especially regarding pesticides and animal welfare.

• No Bans Without Alternatives: Ensuring viable solutions are in place before restrictions on crop protection products.

• Livestock Sector Reform: A rethinking of animal farming in line with sustainability goals.

  
  

At the Agrifood Policy Conference on June 3, discussions delved deeper into how to make EU farming more attractive, competitive, and sustainable. Major takeaways included:

• Productivity and Sustainability Must Coexist: the goal isn’t just to produce more, but to do so while protecting public health, the environment, and farmers’ incomes.

• Support for Innovation: from digital tools to biotech, innovation must be guided by strong governance and public-interest frameworks.

• Integrated Policy Design: agricultural, climate and social policies must work together, not in silos.

• Clear Product Information: transparency on food origin and ingredients must be improved across the EU, avoiding greenwashing and ensuring consumers don’t just pick the cheapest product but the best one.

BeeLife’s Commitment: Science-Driven Advocacy for Pollinators and Biodiversity

75% of EU crops depend on pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and beetles. A single beehive can visit up to 20 billion flowers annually, contributing to food production, seed development, and ecological balance. “The average economic value of crop pollination by insects in the EU from 1991 to 2018 ranged between 7 and 18 billion USD per year”, Michael Rubinigg underlined in the article published on the EU Pollinator Hub, while Lautenbach et al. estimated a global value of around $350 billion per year.

In light of this ecological and economic urgency, the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2027 becomes even more critical. BeeLife is reinforcing its presence within EU institutions, both as a scientific advisor and environmental advocate, to push back against worrying policy regressions in some Member States.

Why Science-Based NGOs Matter More Than Ever

In this landscape, increasingly shaped by competitiveness and market dynamics, the voices anchored in science and guided by public interest are crucial. Pollinators are not just environmental assets; they are keystones of Europe’s food systems, culture and biodiversity.

As the EU charts its agricultural future, BeeLife stands firm: to defend biodiversity, to advocate for smarter, fairer policies, and to ensure that Europe’s agri-food transition doesn’t leave pollinators or farmers behind.

In this spirit, BeeLife has published an open letter addressed to EU authorities, calling for urgent recognition of these essential assumptions in shaping food production and rural development. We invite you to visit our Open Letters on the website, where this appeal and future statements will be made available to engage decision-makers and the wider public.

Our approach is rooted in evidence and collaboration. As Noa Simon, BeeLife’s Scientific Director, explains:

“In May, we met with policymakers, farming and environmental partners in Brussels to reinforce our collective commitment to biodiversity. We’re expanding our strategic partnerships with NGOs, researchers, universities, and EU projects to build a coordinated front for pollinator protection.”

Through its involvement in EU-funded projects and institutional dialogues, BeeLife emphasises that the protection of pollinators should remain central in shaping the next generation of agri-food policies, whether it involves regulating pesticides, deploying new genomic techniques (NGTs), or implementing the Nature Restoration Law.

References:

1. On July 8, the adoption of the controversial Duplomb Law in France marked a dangerous step back, with a parliamentary majority voting to reintroduce neonicotinoids known for their devastating effects on bees, biodiversity, and human health. This decision, taken despite strong opposition from beekeepers, scientists, responsible farmers, and civil society, reflects a broader trend: some Member States remain in favour of using or reintroducing banned and harmful pesticides.