Agriculture and food are cornerstones of European sovereignty, together generating €900 billion in added value in 20221. Yet the sector faces acute geopolitical, economic, social, and environmental pressures. According to recommendations published, the European Technology Platform TP Organics calls for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) to give agri-food a strategic role and provide the resources needed for a sustainable, competitive transition of European agri-food systems.
“Climate resilience, access to healthy and affordable food, and genuine food sovereignty all depend on research and innovation that puts farmers and citizens first,” said Dora Drexler, Member of the TP Organics Steering Committee. “A forward-looking FP10 that addresses societal challenges like sustainable food production is essential to Europe’s security and prosperity.”
TP Organics welcomes President von der Leyen’s recent confirmation that FP10 will remain a stand-alone programme, as a dedicated legal base and clear legal provisions are essential to safeguard public-interest driven and collaborative research, maintain transparency, public trust, and scientific autonomy, while tackling global threats to EU security and competitiveness. In line with the Draghi and Heitor’s reports, FP10 should be equipped with a minimum budget of €200 billion, with at least €20 billion allocated to agri-food R&I. To correct structural underfunding and unlock the sector’s full potential, 30% of agri-food research budget should be dedicated to organic and agroecological priorities, as committed in the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production.
Organic and agroecological systems offer scalable, science-based solutions that cut input dependencies, boost farm income, create rural jobs, and improve climate resilience – all while enhancing biodiversity and food quality. These approaches already contribute to key EU priorities, including EC’s Political Guidelines 2024–2029, the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, and the new Vision for Agriculture and Food. For decades, organic and agroecological approaches have advanced EU goals2 on competitiveness, security, sustainability, and innovation. They empower farmers to produce healthy food, cut input dependency, boost climate adaptation, and reinforce rural economies.
FP10 must build on the Horizon Europe successful model of multi-actor R&I, bringing together farmers, advisers, researchers, SMEs, businesses, NGOs, and policymakers from project design to dissemination. This co-creation ensures that research questions match on-farm realities, that knowledge flows both ways, and that innovations – technological and social – are adopted quickly across diverse territories. Involving all stakeholders from the beginning of new research projects, as spearheaded by the multi-actor approach that is now well-established in Horizon Europe, is indispensable.
- For further information visit www.tporganics.eu
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