Ensuring global food supply and food security

A contingency plan for food supply and food security

The Commission has developed a contingency plan to ensure food supply and food security in times of crisis. The plan aims to ensure a sufficient and varied supply of safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food to citizens at all times.

The Commission published its Communication on the plan on 12 November 2021. It outlines areas for improvement that were identified during the Covid-19 pandemic, principles that should be adhered to in times of crisis, and the creation of a European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM).

Key principles in preventing and tackling food crises in the EU

Lessons learned from various recent crises allowed to identify key principles that should be followed to ensure food supply and food security when a crisis arises:

• Striving for a collaborative approach between all public and private parties that play a role in the food supply chain.
• Ensuring horizontal coordination at political and administrative level, particularly when the crisis originates outside the food supply chain, as was the case with the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Monitoring market imbalances and where necessary, swift intervention using available tools, such as those that exist under the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the common fisheries policy (CFP).
• Keeping supply chains and trade flows operational, including for non-food sectors that are essential to the functioning of the food supply chain.
• Ensuring free movement of cross-border and seasonal workers in the food sector as much as possible.
• Providing early, regular and transparent communication to stakeholders and the public to avoid the crisis being exacerbated through inappropriate information.

European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM)

To implement the principles outlined above, the Commission established the EFSCM, which relies on a dedicated group of experts and a set of rules and procedures governing its activities. Stakeholder organisations that represent the different stages of the food supply chain, as well as certain non-EU countries with food supply chains that are highly integrated into those of the EU, were invited to contribute to improving cooperation between the public and private sectors. The Commission published a call for participation, which was open from 10 December 2021 to 4 February 2022.

The Commission convenes the group of experts periodically to improve levels of preparedness. It may also be convened in case of emergency or crisis without delay and as often as needed, to contribute to the response. The mechanism is triggered in case of exceptional, unpredictable and large-scale events or risks that have the potential to threaten EU food supply or security.

Outcomes of the EFSCM

The EFSCM adopted three sets of recommendations on crisis communication, on diversity of sources of supply, and on mitigating risks in the food supply chain which are part of a number of actions carried out to improve the EU level of preparedness. The objective was to agree on general recommendations that could fit all actors in the chain, laying the groundwork for possible future, detailed and individual risk-specific analyses. 

The outcomes of the work of the EFSCM also include the creation of the Food supply and security dashboard.

By gathering market intelligence and making assessments of causes, drivers, and events that impact the EU food supply and food security, the surveys intend to supplement the data already available in the food supply and security dashboard.

Studies and reports

In November 2023, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a study on risks and vulnerabilities affecting food supply and food security in the EU. It found that the EU food supply chain faces a broad range of risks and shed light on the factors that make it vulnerable to these risks.

The findings of a study on the role of information and communication technologies to improve market transparency show that high-quality and real-time data are critical during crises, in order to manage the agri-food chain effectively.

Availability of supply in time of crisis

Availability of supply is one of the objectives of the CAP, as set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). To ensure availability of supply also in time of emergencies and severe crisis, the Commission adopted a proposal for amendments to the Common Market Organisation Regulation in July 2025.

Expert group members

The members of the EFSCM are listed hereunder and can be viewed by clicking on the categories below: EU countries, non-EU countries, organisations, observers. The list of members can also be found on the Register of Commission Expert Groups and Other Similar Entities, which contains all relevant information and documents related to this expert group.

Expert group meetings

2026

• 4th June 2026: 8^th regular meeting of the expert group on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism
• 30 April 2026: 7^th Ad hoc meeting of the Expert Group on the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism
• 22 April 2026: 7^th Focus meeting of the Expert Group on the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM) - Stockpiling: public-private collaboration
• 26 March 2026: 6^th Ad hoc meeting of the Expert Group on the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM)
• 18 March 2026: 6^th Focus Meeting of the Expert Group on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism – Qualitative Assessment of Food Supply and Food Security

Background of the EFSCM

EU food supply and food security – contingency plan roadmap

As per the initiative’s roadmap, the Commission conducted an analysis, which formed the basis for a staff working document that was published alongside the Communication on 12 November 2021. Other supporting documents, including the Decision and Synopsis, were also published alongside it.

Stakeholder consultation

A stakeholder consultation sought feedback from all stakeholders in the food system on the potential configuration, scope and goals of an EU food crisis response mechanism. It ran from 1 March to 3 May 2021.

Expert Group meetings ahead of the adoption of a contingency plan

The Commission organised a series of meetings within an expert group.

More information on the contingency plan and the setting up of the EFSCM

Communication on contingency plan for ensuring food supply and food security in times of crisis

Commission Staff Working Document SWD2021 (317)

Commission Decision on setting up a group of experts on the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism

Commission Staff Working Document SWD2021 (318) – synopsis report