The Food Policy Coalition sent an open letter urging the EU Commission to elevate sustainable food systems as a top priority in the next mandate. The current trajectory, marked by the rollback of sustainability policies in response to farmer protests, poses significant risks to the future of European agriculture and food security. The letter emphasizes the crucial necessity of a comprehensive strategy that tackles the interconnected issues encountered by farmers, consumers, and the environment. Farmers throughout Europe are facing a multitude of difficulties, encompassing fluctuating market prices, degradation of the environment, and the demands of global trade. Without the implementation of sustainable methods and equitable pricing systems, the survival of farming communities hangs in the balance, endangering not just rural livelihoods but also the durability of our food networks. Given these obstacles, the letter urges the EU Commission to embrace a holistic approach to policy formation, founded upon a multi-directorate governance structure and supported by a robust legislative framework for sustainable food systems. This framework ought to prioritize just and transparent pricing mechanisms, endorse agroecological practices, and fortify the resilience of local food networks.

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