The combined agricultural and food sector accounts today for 30 million jobs (13.4% of total employment) and for 3.5% of total Gross Value Added in the EU-28. 

To meet the challenges of the coming years, the EU and Member States will require ambitious policies – policies that unlock the great potential of the European agri-food chain and maintain its place as a world leader.

A broad coalition of groups representing Europe’s agricultural and food business interests is calling for better and smarter policy‐making that fosters innovation and creates jobs, ensuring that the EU agri‐food chain becomes more productive and resource‐efficient. The group of 11 EU‐level associations presented their joint “Vision for unlocking the potential of agriculture and food industries in the EU” during the meeting of EU Ministers for Agriculture in Athens on 6 May 2014. The coalition includes numerous agricultural input industries such as suppliers of machinery, seed, fertilisers, crop protection, animal health, feed and biotechnology‐based products, as well as the agricultural trade and of course EU farmers and the European food and drink sector.

Download the Vision paper: Food for Thought