EUROCROP resultats are available
The EUROCROP project set up a series of 4 scenarios for 2015.
Some challenges appear of highest importance whatever the scenario, they concern:
food safety the maintenance of an efficient crop protection, as a major guarantee for food security the development of resources use efficiency, especially energy and water, which is of both short term economic interest and a fundamental issue for long term sustainability.
The 2nd level priorities includes 4 supplementary challenges where economic competitiveness is predominant, dealing with yield level and stability improvement, optimisation of cropping systems and adaptation of production systems, and nutrients use efficiency (long term sustainability issue).
The 3rd level priorities could be considered as secondary levers of competitiveness: managing risks for farmers (risks related to markets, climate variations…) developing non-food non-feed uses developing entrepreneurship and innovation capacity developing a positive public perception of AC
Others are key challenges in specific scenarios: the integration of arable crops in rural territories is essential in the context of the scenario “Europe of regions”, where competitiveness is determined at the regional level. 2 other challenges are key issues for the scenario “Challenge of global warming”, related to climate change, to mitigate its effects on arable crops and minimize further degradation (minimize GHG emissions per unit of product).
Download the final reports
The EUROCROP Executive summary :
- English version - PDF 225 Ko
- French version (Résumé des décideurs) - PDF 235 Ko Final report: the complete version (vol1), including scenarios, identification of challenges and recommendations - PDF 1.4 Mo Final report: annexes (Vol 2) - PDF 680 Ko
The EUROCROP conference
The conference took place in Brussels, Belgium, European Economic and Social Committee Centre, on 17th October 2008.
The EuroCrop project introduced its conclusions during this open conference organized in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee.
The public was invited to load the EUROCROP document for public consultation and send comments or questions before the conference.
This event invited to discussions through a round table involving external experts and stakeholders, and dialogue with the participants.
Conference agenda
9:30 – 9:40 Welcome by EESC
9:40 – 9:55 Opening address by Mr John BENSTED SMITH (DG AGRI, Directorate G, Economic analysis, perspectives and evaluations): Vision of the Commission on the EU Arable crops and agriculture worldwide stakes.
9:55 – 10:35 EuroCrop scenarios and priority challenges for arable crops, by Mr Etienne PILORGE, EuroCrop coordinator, CETIOM, France
10:55 – 11:25 How research will meet challenges: conclusions of scientific experts groups, by Mr Davide VIAGGI, WP3 coordinator, DEIAGRA, Alma Mater university of Bologna, Italy
11:25 – 11:45 Vision from European crop chains specific challenges and needs, by Mr Ryszard KOZLOWSKI, WP2 coodinator, Institute of Natural Fibres, Poznan, Poland
11:45 – 12:25 Debates and questions of the participants.
14:00 – 15:30 Round table discussion with stakeholders. Moderator: Mr Xavier BEULIN, chairman of the EuroCrop project, President of the French Oil and Protein Seeds farmers, President of CETIOM
with participation of:
- Mrs Anamarija SLABE, Vice-President of European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Institute for Sustainable Development, Slovenia
- Mrs Ludmilla TODOROVA, President of council of Bulgarian Agricultural Organisations (SBAO), member of EESC NAT
- Mr József KAPUVARI, President of Trade Union Federation of Food Industry Workers (EDOSZ), Hungary, member of EESC
- Mr Henri RIEUX, President of FEDIOL, the EU Oil and Protein meal Industry
- Mr Klaus SCHUMACHER, member of the COCERAL presidium, Head of the Economics Department in Toepfer International, Germany
- Mr Paul TEMPLE, member of COPA-COGECA, President of the British National Farmers Union
- Representative of consumer’s unions
15:30 – 15:55 Synthesis lecture: arable crops sector in the EU economy and research challenges, by Mr Henri NALLET, former French Minister of Agriculture
15:55 – 16:15 conclusion session: agriculture and arable crops in the European Research Area, by Mr Thimothy HALL Download the EUROCROP conference summary - (PDF 105 Ko)
Contact: pilorge@cetiom.fr