EU report recommends ways to protect food chain from crisis

The report into the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM) recommends, among others things, to “build trust, foster a collaborative approach and keep monitoring food supply”.

According to the commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, the publication sets a “general framework of measures and preventative actions to be taken”.

The commission said that, while the food supply chain has “proven its resilience” during times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this “cannot be taken for granted”.

“Several risks and vulnerabilities could threaten the stability we are benefitting from now,” the commission added.

The report follows on from a report in November 2023, which identified a range of risk categories, including: biophysical and environmental; economic and market; socio-cultural and demographic; geopolitical and institutional; supply chain performance; and information and technology.

The aim of the new report was to address those risks.

The 18 recommendations that have now been published are:

• General recommendations:
  • Fostering collaboration and information sharing;
  • Developing crisis preparedness and management strategies;
• Structural recommendations:
  • Improving resilience of the food supply chain, particularly in primary production;
  • Promoting sustainable and circular economy practices along the chain;
  • Diversifying supply sources;
  • Improving resilience of transport and infrastructure;
  • Maintaining a well-functioning Internal Market and Common Organisations of the Market;
  • Sustaining research and innovation;
  • Crisis-proofing regulatory frameworks;
  • Investing in digitalisation;
  • Improving financial support mechanisms;
  • Advocating for international cooperation;
• Crisis preparedness recommendations:
  • Setting robust crisis preparedness and contingency plans at all levels;
  • Analysing risks and stress-testing;
  • Continued monitoring and enhancing early warning systems;
  • Building capacity through training and advisory services;
  • Investing in crisis preparedness, communication and information campaigns;
  • Enhancing crisis communication protocols.

“It is expected that all national authorities and stakeholders use the advice given for their own strategic planning, crisis preparedness and management,” the commission said.

Agriland