Agroecology and Fairness Must Guide EU Agriculture, Says Slow Food to New Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

Brussels, Belgium – Slow Food congratulates the newly appointed European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, and looks forward to collaborating in a constructive way over the course of his mandate.

“We welcome Commissioner Hansen’s strong focus on generational renewal and clarity about the need for fair pricing for farmer’s products, as well as his commitment to work with all actors across the food system, from farmers to producers” comments Marta Messa, Slow Food Secretary General.

Making Food Systems Coherent, Resilient, and Just for All Europeans

Slow Food has long advocated for a food systems approach that prioritises the interconnected health of farmers, communities, and the planet, and we will continue to stress that the food systems approach must materialise in the new mandate. In the role of Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, we hope to see a governance that is holistic: a food systems approach is essential to guarantee agri-food policy coherence in Europe. We look forward to collaborating on the revision of the Public Procurement Directive, as one tangible step in taking a food systems approach, connecting production and consumption.

When it comes to diets, Slow Food invites Commissioner Hansen to rely on our grassroots movement bringing together farmers, food producers, cooks, schools, activists, with positive recommendations to promote plant-rich and diverse diets, where animal products are sourced from high animal welfare farms that embrace the One Health approach.

Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture and Beyond

With the Commissioner’s pledge to build upon the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, Slow Food anticipates meaningful advancements toward policy coherence.

“We look forward to details on the establishment of the European Board on Agriculture and Food, which will be essential in shaping Commissioner Hansen’s Vision for Agriculture and Food within the first 100 days of his mandate,” adds Messa.

There is definitely the need to do “way more”, quoting the Commissioner, to tackle the multiple crises we face. We urge Commissioner Hansen to go beyond quick techno-fixes, but to embrace the innovation and principles offered by agroecology, leveraging the unique wealth of agricultural knowledge, culture and know-how that farmers have across the very diverse European landscape.  Agroecology offers a path that values Europe’s unique diversity in agricultural products, landscapes, and food cultures and recipes, and that can define competitiveness by the quality of our food rather than by the pursuit of low-cost, high-volume production.

The solutions advocated by the Slow Food network are grounded in practical, achievable steps toward sustainability, and demonstrate that agroecological practices are not only viable but essential for resilient food systems. However, these approaches require strong political will to scale and support their implementation effectively. The barrier is not a lack of solutions to address the climate crisis but rather the need for a policy environment that champions and uplifts these sustainable methods.

A Call for Cohesive Leadership – and an Invitation 

The incoming Commissioner must take bold, decisive actions that reflect the urgency of current challenges. Slow Food stands ready to collaborate with the new Commissioner, the European Parliament, and Member States to support a transition towards a more sustainable and just food system.

“We also commend Commissioner Hansen’s determination to be the ‘boots-on-the-ground commissioner,’” concludes Messa. We take the opportunity to extend an invitation to meet Slow Food farmers and producers in Europe at his earliest convenience, to witness firsthand a food system approach that delivers for farmers, the whole of society and for the planet.”