Forum for the Future of Agriculture 2018: healthy farming, healthy food and a healthy future

Over the past ten years, the Forum for the Future of Agriculture has established itself as the largest European agricultural conference, where agricultural experts from different countries outline the future of agriculture and its connection with the growing environmental challenges.

Brussels – Tuesday, 27 March 2018: The Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) once again brought together in Brussels all leading international institutions in the sector, farmers, representatives of non-governmental organizations and business. The international meeting discussed practical solutions for a common agriculture based on sound farming practices and the production of healthy food.

For the 10th consecutive year, the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) and the global agribusiness leader Syngenta organized the Forum for the Future of Agriculture in Brussels, at which agriculture was presented from a European and global perspective, and the main challenges in the sector were discussed in the presence of European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, national ministers, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, including the OECD and FAO, and the academic community.

The theme of this year’s international forum focused on the food and environmental safety agenda in the European region, with an emphasis on biodiversity for the production of healthy food, emerging agricultural technologies and best practices in the field of

sustainable forest management. The need to reduce food waste was also a hot topic in the conference discussion panels.

The Forum has established itself as a high-level meeting place for those who have a significant stake in the future of agriculture. The aim of these meetings is to stimulate open discussions on the future of European and global agriculture and to assess what must and can be achieved, giving equal importance to two key challenges: food security and environmental protection.

Janez Potočnik, Chairman of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture 2018, stated:

"We need leaders in order to achieve a common healthy future, to transform our farming and economic models and to create real change that will respond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Every one of us, from farmers to

consumers, including policymakers and business representatives, must be part of the positive change in our thinking and actions,

which will lead to food security and a sustainable environment."

Alexandra Brand, Chief Sustainability Officer at Syngenta and co-founder of the FFA, shared:

"The FFA helps to bring together different groups in order to find ways to achieve food security, ensuring that our food is safe while at the same time the environment is protected. We also want to help rural communities to thrive. There may be some disagreements about how we can achieve these goals, but as today’s discussion showed, the goals we

want to see achieved are the same, and it is excellent that we are able to conduct adequate and constructive debates. The international conference helps us to find common ground by creating shared agreements. I am proud of the role of Syngenta, which continues to help the Forum for the Future of Agriculture to achieve all of this."

Thierry de l’Escaille, Secretary General of the European Landowners’ Organization and co-founder of the FFA, emphasized:

"Landowners in Europe have an advantage when it comes to delivering healthy food from healthy farms. Our members have a strong desire to be part of the solutions, but they must also be properly rewarded for their efforts. For Europe to be green, we must ensure that it is not enough for domestic farmers merely to survive; they must also prosper."

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