Latest from key partners Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

Poking Holes in Farm to Fork: Health Groups Take The Strategy’s Temperature

25 March, 2020 Natasha Foote

The Farm to Fork strategy aspires to fix our broken food systems while advancing the EU’s sustainability goals. In this three-part series we hear what environmental, health and farming organisations have to say about Farm to Fork so far. Here, Natasha Foote reports on some of the key voices in the health sector to bring us their take on the strategy as it currently stands. […]

Coping with Covid19 – the Open Food Network and the New Digital Order(s)

25 March, 2020 Oliver Moore

With Covid19, aka the coronavirus, come restrictions on people’s outdoor movements and gathering. This means that, while supermarkets are considered essential, it seems to be case by case for other food markets: instantly, farmers markets are shutting all over Europe with serious consequences for small producers. Digital food platforms have never been more urgent. Open Food Network is perhaps the best example of a good food network that’s digitised, cooperative, open source, not for profit and ready for your community. […]

Nothing “mini” about U.S. Plan to Unravel Europe’s Precautionary Principle

12 March, 2020 Sharon Anglin Treat

The real goal of the United States and European Union’s so-called “mini-deal” on trade is unambiguous and goes to the heart of Europe’s way of life and approach to the rule of law. U.S. trade negotiators, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and American farm interests have all been crystal clear: the precautionary principle must go, and now is the time to finally axe it. […]

The CAP and Climate Ambition – Myth vs Reality

10 March, 2020 Joost de Jong

CAP supposedly is climate ambitious, but it fails to really deliver. So what could be done differently? Joost de Jong of the Dutch Transition Coalition of Food Systems gives us some suggestions. […]

Reviewing Ecological Focus Areas: A Cross Pollination of Ideas

8 March, 2020 ARC

Insect pollinators continue to decline across Europe despite the Common Agricultural Policy’s increased focus on environmental protection. In response, a group of experts are calling for the improved quality of wildlife habitats through more targeted management and a robust monitoring framework, and a diversity of habitats to meet the resource requirements of our pollinating insects. […]

Book Extract | Of Seeds and Land Seizures in Sicily

9 February, 2020 Helene Schulze

Platforming the dynamic ways rural Europe has responded the key challenges of this time, the new book by Forum Synergies is an call to get stuck in. Read the final chapter on how Sicilian youth have organised access to land for young people, how to confront political uncertainty, why to pay attention to seeds and the value of an experimental spirit. […]

CSOs Open Letter on the Farm to Fork strategy to Achieve Sustainable Food Systems

13 December, 2019 ARC

ARC2020 is one of 30 civil society organisations have written an open letter in order to highlight the priorities and actions that the F2F strategy should have in order to provide a coherent response to societal concerns about biodiversity, climate change, health, income of all workers in the food chain, social equity and animal welfare, amongst others. […]

Comparing Organic, Agroecological and Regenerative Farming part 3 – Regenerative

26 November, 2019 Andrea Beste

In this three part series we present an analysis by Dr. Andrea Beste on the similarities, differences and synergies between the organic, agroecological and regenerative farming movements. Part three here outlines the relatively new regenerative agriculture movement. A German version of the entire series is also available if you click through. […]

Comparing Organic, Agroecological and Regenerative Farming part 1 – Organic

26 November, 2019 Andrea Beste

In this new three part series we present an analysis by Dr. Andrea Beste on the similarities, differences and synergies between the organic, agroecological and regenerative farming movements. Part one here outlines the history and current status of the organic movement. A German version of the entire series is also available if you click through. […]

5 things about the 4th European Rural Parliament.

20 November, 2019 Oliver Moore

Three of the ARC2020 team was in Candas in Asturais, northern Spain, where they attended the 4th Rural Parliament. It was quite the time, meeting and listening, exploring and sampling, thinking and doing over four wet but wonderful days. So what happened? […]

Rural Dialogues | The Three Conditions of Sustainable Rural Digitalisation

24 October, 2019 Gianluca Brunori

Gianluca Brunori argues that access, design and complexity are three conditions that define how rural digitalisation is unfolding, and if rural digitalisation is in line with the sustainable development goals. Building on this base, through Responsible Research and Innovation the DESIRA project will help society and political bodies respond to the challenges digitalisation generates in rural areas, agriculture and forestry. […]

Wolfgang Hees on Policy and Land Use at Strasbourg Good Food Good Farming Action Day

23 October, 2019 ARC

Wolfgang Hees, is an organic farmer and representative of the German small-scale farmers association of the region of Baden-Württemberg. He attended and spoke at the Good Food Good Farming rally in Strasbourg on Monday. Below is what he said. […]

Busy month of Good Food Good Farming wraps up in Strasbourg

22 October, 2019 Helene Schulze

Yesterday morning, several hundred protesters descended on Strasbourg to call on the European Parliament to reform the CAP acknowledging the serious climate and environmental crises. This was the closing action of this years Good Food Good Farming campaign which saw over 90 actions in 23 countries. […]

Agroecology Europe Forum | What is this Thing called Agroecology?

16 October, 2019 Oliver Moore

What is this Thing called Agroecology? ARC2020’s Oliver Moore attended the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum at the end of September. In this second of three reports from the event, he ponders the triad – science, practice and movement – and wonders how they – and other elements – intersect. Featuring audio from a number of participants. […]

Agriculture Atlas | The Biggest Beneficiary

16 September, 2019 EditorialARC2020

France is the largest recipient of Common Agricultural Policy funds. But there are significant disparities among the country’s regions, between types of production, and among farms. […]