This event has ended.
Description and programme
The Conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food took place on 8 May 2025 at The Square in Brussels. It was centered around the theme of "Shaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector".
The event brought together key stakeholders – including European agri-food sectors, civil society, rural communities, consumers, think-tanks, academia, Member States and MEPs – to contribute to the debate to shape an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations.
The conference aims were to:
- continue to build consensus around the Vision and its roadmap
- discuss and gather feedback on the way forward, focusing on key initiatives outlined in the Vision
- engage with stakeholders on the future direction for the CAP post 2027
Vision Conference Shaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector – programme
- rural development | rural region | common agricultural policy
- Thursday 8 May 2025, 09:00 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Brussels, Belgium
- Live streaming available
Media
Vision conference - Highlights 8 May 2025Shaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
Before the openingShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector - entrance 
Conference openingShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector - Opening 
Panoramic view of BrusselsMons des Arts in the foreground looking towards Grand Place 
Conference on the Vision for Agriculture and Food - Message by Ursula von der Leyen, President of European CommissionVideo message opening the conference 
Christophe HansenChristophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food 
Christophe HansenChristophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food 
Tamsin RoseTamsin Rose - Master of ceremonies 
Tamsin RoseTamsin Rose (Master of ceremonies) and audience 
Christophe Hansen and Luis Planas PuchadesChristophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food and Luis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 
Plenary 1 - visual workVisual work 
Plenary 1Plenary 1: From vision to action: fostering an attractive, competitive, resilient, future proof and fair EU agri-food sector 
Czesław SiekierskiCzesław Siekierski, Polish Minister of Agriculture 
Eric SargiacomoEric Sargiacomo, Vice-Chair of COMAGRI, European Parliament 
Piotr Całbecki, Massimiliano Giansanti, COPA PresidentPiotr Całbecki, President NAT Commission, Committee of the Regions, Massimiliano Giansanti, COPA President 
Piotr CałbeckiPiotr Całbecki, President NAT Commission, Committee of the Regions 
Peter SchmidtPeter Schmidt, President NAT section, European Economic and Social Committee 
Massimiliano GiansantiMassimiliano Giansanti, COPA President 
Plenary 2 - visual workPlenary 2 
Gelsomina VigliottiGelsomina Vigliotti, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank 
Christophe Hansen, Gelsomina Vigliotti, Cédric GlorieuxChristophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food - Gelsomina Vigliotti, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank - Cédric Glorieux, Director of Products and Solutions Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne). 
Anne van LeeuwenAnne van Leeuwen, Dutch young farmer and farmfluencer 
Anne van LeeuwenAnne van Leeuwen, Dutch young farmer and farmfluencer 
Panel Plenary 2Panel Plenary 2: Building an attractive farming sector for the future: fostering investment and entrepreneurship for generational renewal 
Peter MeedendorpPeter Meedendorp, CEJA President 
Peter MeedendorpPeter Meedendorp, CEJA President 
Norbert TotschnigNorbert Totschnig, Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management 
Francesco LollobrigidaFrancesco Lollobrigida, Italian Minister for Agriculture, Food sovereignty and Forestry 
Jean-Christophe RoubinJean-Christophe Roubin, Director for Agriculture, Crédit Agricole S.A 
Peter Meedendorp and Martin SiemenPeter Meedendorp, CEJA President and Martin Siemen, Vice-Chair, Rural Youth Europe 
Martin SiemenMartin Siemen, Vice-Chair, Rural Youth Europe 
Erika OlssonErika Olsson, Farmer and President of the Swedish organic farmers association, IFOAM Organics Europe 
Breakout 1 - visual workvisual work 
Breakout session 1Breakout session 1 - Enhancing resilience to risks and crises 
Breakout session 1Breakout session 1 - Enhancing resilience to risks and crises 
Luis Planas Puchades and the audienceLuis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 
Luis Planas PuchadesLuis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 
Frank LeeFrank Lee, Head of Division - Financial Institutions Advisory, European Investment Bank 
Irina Schuman Irina Schuman, Senior Agriculture Economist, World Bank 
Prof. Erik Mathijs Prof. Erik Mathijs, Head of Division Bioeconomics, KU Leuven 
Luis Planas PuchadesLuis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 
Breakout 2 - visual workVisual work 
Breakout session 2Breakout session 2 - Developing excellence in livestock production chains 
Breakout session 2Breakout session 2 - Developing excellence in livestock production chains 
Breakout 2 sessionEttore Prandini, Chair of the Strategic Committee of Farm Europe - Gillian O’Sullivan, Veterinary Surgeon and Dairy Farmer - Pierre-Marie Aubert, Director, Agriculture and food policies programme, IDDRI 
Breakout session 2Breakout session 2 - Developing excellence in livestock production chains 
Breakout session 2Breakout session 2 - Developing excellence in livestock production chains 
Gillian O’Sullivan and Ettore PrandiniGillian O’Sullivan, Veterinary Surgeon and Dairy Farmer and Ettore Prandini, Chair of the Strategic Committee of Farm Europe 
Breakout 3 - visual workVisual work 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Breakout session 3Breakout session 3 - Leveraging opportunities for farmers from bioeconomy, nature and climate protection (i.e. carbon and nature credits) 
Sari EssayahSari Essayah, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Finland 
Tristano Bacchetti de GregorisTristano Bacchetti de Gregoris, Coordinator of the Soil Mission project “CREDIBLE” 
Caroline PlouxCaroline Ploux, Senior EU Affairs Manager, Mars Inc. 
Wrap-up sessionNataša Lovric, Senior Researcher, University of Eastern Finland - Holger Thiele, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, Kiel University of Applied Sciences - Prof. Erik Mathijs, Head of Division Bioeconomics, KU Leuven 
Pierre BascouPierre Bascou, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission 
Pierre Bascou concluding remarksPierre Bascou, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector 
ParticipantsShaping the future of farming and the agri-food sector
Practical information
- When
- Thursday 8 May 2025, 09:00 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Where
- The SquareMont des Arts, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English, French, German, Polish, Italian
- Organisers
- Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Social media links
Description
Background information about the Vision for Agriculture and Food
Recognising the essential role of farmers in our lives, the Vision seeks to boost the agri-food sector’s competitiveness and attractiveness. It outlines the enabling conditions to ensure the sector thrives, innovates, and continues benefiting society today, tomorrow and in 2040. The Vision builds on the report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture.
The Vision for Agriculture and Food was proposed as a priority initiative for the first 100 days of this Commission's mandate. It devised in consultation with the European Board for Agriculture and Food and aims to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the EU's farming and food sector. Based on the latest Eurobarometer results, EU citizens overwhelmingly agree that securing a stable food supply in the EU at all times is essential.
The Vision emphasises close engagement with relevant institutions, farmers, food chain operators and civil society at local and regional levels, addressing their concerns and ideas.