Activities of Asger CHRISTENSEN related to 2020/2260(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Farm to Fork Strategy (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system
Amendments (52)
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
- having regard to the European Court of Auditors Special Report No 21/2019 of 19 November 2019 on Addressing antimicrobial resistance,
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the Farm to Fork report should ensure consistency and coherence between the Common Agriculture and Fisheries Policies, the Trade Policy, the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Circular Economy Action Plan, EU's Climate Law as well as other related EU Policies and Strategies;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the Farm to Fork Strategy should consider all three pillars of sustainability (economic, social and environmental) when translating the targets into legislation;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas informed citizens can play a great role in achieving Europe's climate, resource-efficient, and biodiversity objectives from the demand side; whereas to enhance consumer awareness and trust, there is a great need for transparent, comparable and harmonised product information;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the European model of a multifunctional sustainable agricultural sector, driven by family farms, continues to ensure food security, quality food production, local supply chains, good agriculture practices, high environmental standards and vibrant rural areas throughout the EU;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas climate change and biodiversity loss constitute increasing threats to food security and livelihoods with recurring droughts, floods, forest fires, and new pests; whereas the Commission shall closely monitor food security, biodiversity loss, as well as the competitiveness of farmers and food operators for the successful implementation of the farm to fork and biodiversity strategies;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas overweight and obesity are increasing at a rapid rate in the EU; highlights that the causes for overweight and obesity are multifaceted, but poor diet and nutrition are some of the key factors, leading to a high prevalence of overweight and obesity;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas according to the European Commission 88 tonnes of food are wasted in the EU every year; whereas the top contributors to food waste in the EU are households (53%) and processing (19%); whereas 10 % of the food waste in the EU are linked to date marking and consumer misunderstandings on how to read and use the date marking system;
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas antimicrobial resistance may also have impacts on human health;
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Supports the European Commission’s vision of the European Green Deal as Europe’s new growth strategy; acknowledges the importance and necessity of a large and competitive agricultural and food sector as a provider of jobs, economic activity and sustainable food especially in the rural areas;
Amendment 565 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement of an impact-assessed proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems; invites the Commission to use this proposal to set out a holistic common food policy aimed at reducing the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system in order to make Europe the first climate- neutral continent by 2050 and strengthen its resilience to ensure food security in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, leading a global transition towards sustainability from farm to fork, based on the principle of a multifunctional agricultural sector while ensuring consistency between policies by taking into account the existing legislation in order to enable all actors in the European food system to develop long-term plans based on realistic and transparent objectives; suggests that the respective base lines and progress achieved in each Member State be taken into account setting more ambitious targets for those Member States who have not made sufficient reductions of the use of chemical pesticides, antimicrobials and fertilisers until now, while promoting the exchange of know-how and best practices between Member States; stresses the need to include the entire food and beverage chains including processing, marketing, distribution and retail; asks the Commission to conduct a cumulative impact assessment of the farm to fork strategy that can help in deciding on the best policy options for the way forward;
Amendment 569 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the announcement of an impact-assessed proposal for a legislative framework for sustainable food systems; invites the Commission to use this proposal to set out a holistic common food policy aimed at reducing the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system in order to make Europe the first climate- neutral continent by 2050 and strengthen its resilience to ensure food security in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, leading a global transition towards sustainability from farm to fork, based on the principle of a multifunctional agricultural sector while ensuring consistency between policies by taking into account the existing legislation in order to enable all actors in the European food system to develop long-term plans based on realistic and transparent objectives; stresses the need for any evaluation of the Strategy to consider the cumulative impact of all actions foreseen along the whole food chain therein in a holistic and systemic manner rather than focus on individual targets, and to also consider impacts on all three pillars of sustainability; suggests that the respective base lines and progress achieved in each Member State be taken into account, while promoting the exchange of know-how and best practices between Member States; stresses the need to include the entire food and beverage chains including processing, marketing, distribution and retail;
Amendment 677 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Underlines that no single farming model can fulfil the various requirements for sustainable production as all models have their specific strengths and weaknesses with regard to the different pillars of sustainability, particularly climate and environmental performance including land-use; calls for a multi- model approach that focuses on exploiting the strengths of different farming models and further improving their weaknesses;
Amendment 681 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Calls on the Commission to set up a comprehensive governance framework that invites the participation of all stakeholder groups in the further development and implementation of the Strategy and its subsequent measures;
Amendment 766 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the decision to revise the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides and the reduction targets for pesticides, fertilisers, and antibiotics; emphasises the importance of pursuing these targets through holistic and circular approaches, such as agroecological practices, integrated farm-, crop management and pest management; insists that each Member State should establish robust quantitative reduction targets, accompanied by well- defined support measures ensuring accountability at all levels to help reach these targets; reiterates its call for the translation into legislation of the above targets and objectives and calls on the Commission to clarify how it will deal with individual Member States’ contributions to Union- wide targets and to clarify the baselines for these targets;
Amendment 809 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Supports the Commission's proposal to reduce the overall EU use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% and the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% by 2030; believes that the Commission should support the uptake of innovative agricultural practices in order to reach this goal;
Amendment 841 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Welcomes the Commission's plan to reduce the overall sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture by 50% in 2030; recalls the importance of a One Health approach;
Amendment 843 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Recalls the importance of the One Health approach and of fighting antimicrobial resistance; welcomes the Commission’s initiative to tackle the irresponsible use of antibiotics; believes that the proper implementation of the Veterinary Medicines Regulation will further reduce the use of antibiotics use efficiently; calls on the Commission and Member States to focus on further measures of enabling and incentivising innovative solutions, particularly in prevention tools and alternative therapies and vaccines; stresses that progress made must be taken into account when considering reduction targets and insists that reductions can only be considered to a level that guarantees the availability of antibiotics, if needed to ensure animal health;
Amendment 853 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Supports the Commission's plan to reduce EU nutrient losses by at least 50% and the reduction of the use of fertilisers by at least 20% by 2030; underlines that this reduction should not deteriorate soil fertility; believes that support should be given to sustainable farm business models for nutrient recovery and recycling;
Amendment 870 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Amendment 871 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Acknowledges the substantial efforts made to reduce the use of antimicrobials for treating animals as highlighted in the 2019 European Court of Auditors report on AMR, further enhanced by the new EU Regulations on Veterinary Medicinal Products and Medicated Feed, contributing to the global effort to reduce antibiotic resistance; underlines that the EU must ensure the treatment of animals with antimicrobials remains possible when needed, in order to ensure that animal health and welfare is protected at all times;
Amendment 913 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the importance of recognising the significant impact of agriculture and especially some animal production practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use; stresses the need to enhance natural carbon sinks and reduce agricultural emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, in particular in the feed and livestock sectors; calls for regulatory measures and targets to ensure progressive reductions in all GHG emissions in these sectors, while not degrading the quality and nutrient value of European soils and while ensuring that imports from third countries not compliant with the Strategy conditions and objectives will be subject to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or similar EU adjustment mechanisms to ensure fair competition for EU producers;
Amendment 958 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Highlights that operators in the agricultural sector and the food chain should ensure the optimised utilisation and recycling of non-renewable resources in order to protect land, biodiversity and water; considers that the circular economy and bio-economy offer great potential for the transition towards a climate-neutral European economy through for example, advanced bio- refineries that produce bio-fertilisers, protein feed, bioenergy, renewable energy and biochemicals;
Amendment 1026 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that extensive and permanent grassland-based or organic animal husbandry is a feature of the European food system and a defining element of many traditional rural communities, and that it hascan have multiple positive effects for the environment and, against climate change, and contributes to a circular economy and biodiversity restoration;
Amendment 1046 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights that the diversity of European farming traditions and practices ensures and incentivises sustainable agricultural production in Europe; furthermore finds that this diversity of traditions and practices is and should remain a key component in the Union's and Member States' efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to advance climate-friendly production methods;
Amendment 1060 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Considers that EU initiatives within the farm to fork strategy should support a further development of food produced with a low environmental impact per unit in terms of e.g. the use of fertilisers, pesticides, biodiversity loss, antimicrobials and GHG-emissions;
Amendment 1079 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the notion of rewarding carbon sequestration in soils; stresses, however, that intensive and industrial agriculture and farming models with negative Highlights the enormous potential of agriculture and forestry to contribute to carbon sequestration and thus achieving climate neutrality; welcomes the notion of rewarding carbon sequestration in soils under a new carbon farming initiative; invites the Commission to present several options including carbon market approaches; stresses, that all practices that reduce the climate-impacts on biodiversity should not receive climate ff farming should be taken into account in a robust accoundting orframework and be incentivised; calls for the proposals to be in line with the environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 1081 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the notion of rewarding carbon sequestration in soils; stresses, however, that intensive and industrial agriculture and farming models with negative impacts on biodiversity should not receive climate funding or be incentivisedand incentivising climate mitigation, adaptation and CO2 sequestration in land use, soil and biomass; therefore, calls on the Commission to explore a framework for the certification of carbon removals; highlights that the restoration of eco- systems and the development of a carbon removals market for land-based greenhouse gas sequestration would assist in restoring, maintaining and managing natural sinks and promote the Circular Economy; calls for the proposals to be in line with the environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 1087 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of nature-based solutions, such as restoration of soils, peatlands and wetlands, for increasing natural carbon sinks and solving multiple challenges at once; Welcomes the notion of rewarding carbon sequestration in soils; stresses, however, that intensive and industrial agriculture and farming models with negative impacts on biodiversity should not receive climate funding or be incentivised; calls for the proposals to be in line with the environmental objectives and the ‘do no harm’ principle of the Green Deal;
Amendment 1123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Believes that rewarding carbon sequestration in soils should be carried out in a way which avoids greenwashing and provides for an increase of the overall EU carbon sinks; calls on the Commission to present a proposition on carbon quantification and certification; calls on the Commission to present swiftly its initiative on Carbon Farming and use the opportunity of carbon market reform and of the LULUCF review to provide additional financing to reward farmers for developing and maintaining good agricultural interventions towards carbon sequestration, which should lead to the enhancement of the EU overall carbon sinks;
Amendment 1126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that healthy soil is a precondition for ensuring security of food, feed and fibre production and the basis for healthy food production; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to close the existing legislative gap in soil protection and to work together to help Member States halt and reverse soil degradation on their territory;
Amendment 1130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that healthy soils are a precondition for ensuring security of food, feed and fibre production; Calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to prevent its further degradation at the EU level;
Amendment 1133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure the protection of Apis mellifera, Bombus spp. and solitary bees, within the review process of the 2013 EFSA Bee Guidance; furthermore welcomes the ongoing efforts of ECHA to develop a pollinator guidance for assessing the risk to arthropod pollinators from biocides exposure to ensure a high and harmonised level of protection of the environment;
Amendment 1260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for CAP National Strategic Plans to ensure adequate financial support and incentives to promote new ecologicalsustainable ‘green’ business models for agriculture and artisanal food production, notably through fostering short supply chains and quality food production;
Amendment 1370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Expresses its deep concern about the emergence of zoonotic diseases that are transferred from animals to humans (anthropozoonoses), such as Q fever, avian influenza and the new strain of influenza A (H1N1), which is exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change, the destruction of biodiversity, environmental degradation and our current food production systems; acknowledges that disease preparedness (diagnosis, prevention, treatment) is and has been key to contain emerging threats to humans as well as animals;
Amendment 1609 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the need to promote effective Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), enabling all food chain actors to become sustainable by speeding up innovation, the implementation of Integrated Pest Management for every crop and accelerating knowledge transfer; recalls, in addition, the need for a farm sustainability data network to set benchmarks for farm performance and document the uptake of sustainable farming practices, while allowing for the precise and tailored application of new production approaches at farm level by providing farmers with access to fast broadband connections;
Amendment 1677 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for measures to reduce the burden that highly processed foods with high salt, sugar and fat content place on public health; regrets that the introduction of nutrient profiles is greatly delayed and stresses that a robust set of nutrient profiles must be developed to restrict or prohibit the use of false nutritional claims on foods high in fats, sugars and/or salt; calls for a mandatory EU-wideEU-wide, category-based front-of-pack nutrition labelling system based on independent science; calls for voluntary harmonised origin labelling;
Amendment 1701 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to work on a European Force against food fraud to enhance coordination between the different relevant national agencies in order to ensure the implementation of EU food standards both within the EU single market and regarding our imports;
Amendment 1724 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. WelcomesRegrets the lack of harmonisation and information about the presence of hazardous chemicals in food contact materials; Welcomes therefore the Commission’s commitment to revise the EU legislation on food contact materials (FCM); reiterates its call to revise the legislation on FCM in line with the regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH), as well as classification, labelling and packaging regulations, and to insert, without further delay, specific provisions to substit, including cut-off criteria, to phase oute endocrine disrupting chemicals; and substances of very high concern (SVHC) in all FCM; reiterates its call to include in the FCM revised legislation binding provisions for all materials used in the food contact materials, including those that are not yet covered (such as paper, ink, adhesives or glue);
Amendment 1787 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the fact that the strategy rightly recognises the role and influence of the food environment in shaping consumption patterns and the need to make it easier for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable diets; reiterates the importance of promoting sustainable diets by raising consumer awareness of the impacts of consumption patterns and providing information on diets that are better for human health and have a lower environmental footprint; underlines that food prices must be market based and send the right signal to consumers; welcomes, therefore, the strategy’s objective that the healthy and sustainable choice should become the most affordable one;
Amendment 1826 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reaffirms its belief that policy measures that are dependent solely on consumer choice unduly shift the responsibility to purchase sustainable products to consumers; notes that third- party certification and labelling alone are not effective in ensuring sustainable production and consumption; calls on the Commission to submit a report on measures to support climate-friendly farming and food production by means of third party certification schemes; highlights that labelling can play a crucial role in increasing transparency about sustainability, business responsibility and production practices for the farmers and the food chain;
Amendment 1847 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights that better animal welfare practices used in farming, improve animal health; looks forward to the results of the REFIT of the EU animal welfare legislation and calls on the Commission to further advance animal welfare protection and labelling rules;
Amendment 1848 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Welcomes the ongoing work in the special Committee for Animal Transports in the European Parliament; notes that an updated regulatory framework on driving and rest time rules will improve animal welfare during transports;
Amendment 1861 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights the recognition in the strategy that Europeans’ diets are not in line with recommendations for healthy eating, and that a population-wide shift in consumption patterns is needed towards more healthy and plant-based foods and less red and processed meat,diet with reduced sugars, salt, and fats, which will also benefit the environment; emphasises that EU-wide guidelines for sustainable and healthy diets would bring clarity to consumers on what constitutes a healthy and sustainable diet and inform Member States’ own efforts to integrate sustainability elements in national dietary advice; calls on the Commission to develop such guidelines and specific actions to effectively promote healthy plant-based dietsand towards a more climate friendly and sustainable diet where plant- based alternatives can play a role;
Amendment 2021 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. RHighlights that food waste has enormous environmental consequences, exacerbates climate change and represents a waste of limited resources such as land, energy and water; therefore reiterates its call to take the measures required to achieve a Union food waste reduction target of 30 % by 2025 and 50 % by 2030 compared to the 2014 baseline; underlines that binding targets are needed to achieve this;
Amendment 2046 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses that, in order to reduce waste at the production stage, innovative techniques and technologies should be used to minimise losses in the fields and convert those crops and products, that do not meet market standards, into processed goods;
Amendment 2048 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Notes that digitalisation allows for better access to data and demand forecasts, and thereby helps developing advanced production programmes for farmers, enabling them to tailor their production to demand, better coordinate with other sectors of the food supply chain, and minimise waste; stresses that given the challenging nature of reducing food waste, effective use of food waste, including in the bio economy, should be promoted;
Amendment 2051 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Amendment 2052 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. Considers that the involvement of local stakeholders is paramount in order to reach the Union's food waste reduction targets; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure adequate financing for research, innovation, engagement of stakeholders and information campaigns through the creation of National Food Waste Funds;
Amendment 2078 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. In the context of the UK Trade Deal, reiterates its the position of voted on January 27, 2021 regarding the links between food safety and Brexit, that the EU should have a proper coordination process to avoid uneven control checks on UK goods at EU ports;
Amendment 2102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines the importance EU funding for research and innovation as a key driver in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, healthy and inclusive European food system while facilitating investments needed to encourage agro- ecological practices in both social and technological innovation, and the crucial role of farm advisory services in ensuring the transfer of knowledge to the farming community, drawing on the existing specialised training systems for farmers in Member States; emphasises that safeguarding innovation in animal health is essential and should be actively supported by stimulating the development and uptake of new technology and methods to improve animal health on farms; urges the Commission and Member States to allocate the necessary funding to meet this imperative objective;
Amendment 2263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls again the Commission to provide for the enforceability of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapter of our Free Trade Agreements; is of the opinion that this should be done through the inclusion of proportionate and progressive sanction provisions in TSD chapters;