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Agriculture and rural development

Main initiatives: Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture

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.

Find out more about what the EU does on agriculture.

Participant organisations

Dates of the plenary meetings

  1. First plenary meeting
    25 January 2024
  2. Second plenary meeting
    11-12 March 2024
  3. Third plenary meeting
    22-23 April 2024
  4. Fourth plenary meeting
    20-21 June 2024
  5. Fifth plenary meeting
    9-10 July 2024

Report to be published by Summer 2024.

In focus

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: 

EU actions to address farmers’ concerns

Highlights