Purpose of the Dialogue
Launched in January 2024, the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture is a new forum that aims to shape a shared vision for EU farming.
The Strategic Dialogue brings together key stakeholders from across the whole agri-food chain, including farmers, co-operatives, agri-food businesses, and rural communities; as well as non-governmental organisations and civil society representatives, financial institutions and academia.
Professor Peter Strohschneider has been appointed as chair, based on his longstanding experience, notably as chair of the Federal government of Germany's "Commission for the Future of Agriculture".
Developing a joint understanding
The Dialogue is crucial for developing a joint understanding of the future EU farming and food system. It tackles the following challenges and opportunities:
- How can we give our farmers, and the rural communities they live in, a better perspective, including a fair standard of living?
- How can we support agriculture within the boundaries of our planet and its ecosystem?
- How can we make better use of the immense opportunities offered by knowledge and technological innovation?
- How can we promote a bright and thriving future for Europe's food system in a competitive world?
The Dialogue is an opportunity to hear the perspectives, ambitions, concerns and solutions of farmers and other key stakeholders from across the agri-food chain, with the aim to find a common ground for the future of the Union’s agri-food sector.
Strategic Dialogue report
On 4 September 2024, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen received the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture.
The final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture.
Press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Peter Strohschneider, Chairman of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, on the publication of the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future…Peter Strohschneider, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen, during the press conference 
Press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Peter Strohschneider, Chairman of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, on the publication of the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future…Ursula von der Leyen 
Press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Peter Strohschneider, Chairman of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, on the publication of the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future…Peter Strohschneider, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen, during the press conference 
Press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Peter Strohschneider, Chairman of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, on the publication of the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future…Peter Strohschneider, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen, during the press conference 
Press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Peter Strohschneider, Chairman of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, on the publication of the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future…General view of the press conference
- Peter Strohschneider (Chair)
- Leo Alders (Fertilizers Europe)
- Lili Balogh (Agroecology Europe)
- Faustine Bas-Defossez (European Environmental Bureau)
- Kristjan Bragason (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions)
- Ariel Brunner (Bird Life Europe & Central Asia)
- Marco Contiero (Greenpeace Europe)
- Christel Delberghe (Eurocommerce)
- Thierry de L'Escaille (European Landowners’ Organization)
- Michael Gohn (Euroseeds)
- Monique Goyens (BEUC The European Consumer Organisation)
- Thibaut Guignard (European LEADER Association for Rural Development)
- Nelli Hajdu (European Liaison Committee for Agricultural and Agri-Food Trade)
- Sjoukje Heimovaara (Wageningen University and Research)
- Dirk Jacobs (FoodDrinkEurope)
- Christiane Lambert (COPA Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations)
- Joseph Lechner (Geopa-COPA Employers’ Group of Professional Agricultural Organisations)
- Philip Lymbery (Eurogroup for Animals)
- Peter Meedendorp (CEJA European Council of Young Farmers)
- Marta Messa (Slow Food)
- Lennart Nilsson (Cogeca General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives)
- Spyros Papadatos (Rural Youth Europe)
- Jan Plagge (IFOAM Organics Europe)
- Rocco Renaldi (FoodServiceEurope)
- Claire Skentelbery (EuropaBio)
- Geneviève Savigny (European Coordination Via Campensina)
- Nina Schindler (European Association of Co-operative Banks)
- Uno Svedin (EURAGRI)
- Jacques Vandenschrik (European Food Banks Federation)
- Gelsomina Vigliotti (European Investment Bank)
Dates of the plenary meetings
- First plenary meeting25 January 2024
- Second plenary meeting11-12 March 2024
- Third plenary meeting22-23 April 2024
- Fourth plenary meeting20-21 June 2024
- Fifth plenary meeting9-10 July 2024
- Sixth plenary meeting22-23 July 2024
- Seventh plenary meeting27-29 August 2024
- Report published4 September 2024
Find out more from the chair of the Strategic Dialogue:
- The objectives of the discussion
- The steps of this process
- The challenges ahead
Find out more about what the EU does on agriculture.
Simplification of farmers' administrative burden
The Commission has taken actions taken to respond to farmers’ concerns and it was directed specifically at farmers to identify the administrative burden and complexity stemming from common agriculture policy (CAP) rules as well as other rules for food and agriculture, both in relation to their application at national level and also to the recording and reporting obligations linked to them.
The Commission also launched two surveys:
- a survey on unfair trading practices where farmers and all smaller suppliers across the food supply chain could share their views on their experience with unfair trading practices, and
- a survey on simplification which gathered farmers' views on simplifying certain rules and procedures.
