Latest from key partners Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

LEADER: Where It Came From, What’s Still In It

December 17, 2024 Robert Lukesch

As part of the transnational LEADER project “Our Common Future” in which LEADER networks came together to conceptualise the future of the LEADER approach, Robert Lukesch brings us a broad retrospective on the wider context from which LEADER emerged, the evolution along its trajectory through six budget periods, and some conclusive thoughts about its future destiny. […]

Weaving Common Ground – European Triangle for Rural Action

November 25, 2024 ARC

On 28 November – 1 December, in the rural village of Grzybów, Poland, ARC2020 is co-organising a European gathering of sustainable rural initiatives to take stock of a new political situation of Europe and to look into possibilities of cooperation: “Weaving Common Ground” between rural and urban people. In collaboration with our local hosts, the Ecological Folk High School and Ziarno association, the gathering will conclude a three-year cooperation of people in rural France, Germany and Poland. […]

Bridging Generations – Shaping the Future of Sustainable Rural Communities Together!

November 21, 2024 ARC

Our partner Forum Synergies invites you to a RuralNext online event dedicated to identifying the needs of rural communities across generations, followed by networking and team-building opportunities, this Tuesday 26 Nov 2024 from 17:30-19:00 CET. […]

France | Local Authorities Can Lead on Sustainable Food

November 18, 2024 ARC

France’s territorial food programmes are an exciting example of what can happen when local communities have a say in their food systems. An open letter signed by a collective of more than 120 French mayors and local councillors of all political stripes, 19 organisations and 7 scientists, and published on Friday in Le Monde, calls for a systemic vision and state support to local authorities who are working to advance the agroecological transition and transform local food systems. […]

European Days of Action – Mobilizing for a Just Transition of our Food Systems

November 15, 2024 ARC

October has come to a close, and with it, another year of European Days of Action! With 64 events in 25 countries, we’ve raised our collective voice to highlight some critical EU negotiations next year: the EU budget, also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework and the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy. Mia Mancini and Pauline Naterstad tell us more. […]

Soil Atlas 2024 – Soil Protection? Wanted!

November 13, 2024 ARC

Launched today, the Soil Atlas 2024 jointly published by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung and TMG – Think Tank for Sustainability, highlights the consequences of the global loss of fertile soil, and also shows the potential of sustainable and fair land use for climate protection and biodiversity. Here we bring you an excerpt. […]

No More Business As Usual For Future Rural Development Policy

October 31, 2024 Edina Ocsko

Negotiations on future policy options at the EU level are ongoing, setting the basic framework for future rural development policy. In this op-ed, Edina Ocsko of Smart Village Network Services / E40, who is Vice-Chair of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG), argues that the EU must take a more proactive approach in delivering stronger supports for rural areas. […]

Michael Dower Award for Rural Resilience – Nominate A Rural Action-Taker Today!

October 15, 2024 ARC

Michael Dower (1937-2022) has inspired rural Europe for decades. Co-founder of the European AgriCultural Convention (EAC), which later became ARC2020, he was a phenomenal agent of change. Launching today, the Michael Dower Award for Rural Resilience will showcase the efforts of local communities and individuals who are taking action to make rural Europe a better place to live. […]

Op-ed – The Brave New World of Bayer & Co

October 11, 2024 Hans van Scharen

In this op-ed, Hans Van Sharen of Corporate Europe Observatory argues that Bayer, a German agrochemical giant, exerts vast political and economic influence globally, often harming public health, biodiversity, and democracy in the process. The company aggressively lobbies to shape laws in its favor, fighting legal battles over the harmful effects of its products, like glyphosate. A new report by Corporate Europe Observatory reveals Bayer’s long history of lobbying to maintain control of the seed and pesticide markets, despite evidence of environmental and health risks. With soaring lobbying expenditures, especially in the EU and US, Bayer even seeks to alter liability laws to protect itself from lawsuits. Critics argue that Bayer’s toxic business model must be curtailed to protect both the environment and democracy. […]

From Farmers for Farmers – and for Healthy Societies on a Planet Conducive to Life

October 7, 2024 ARC

The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) is an independent, farmer-led coordination and political advocacy organization of the movement of regenerative agriculture at the European level. EARA is striving to enable the transformation of our agrifood ecosystems through accountable ecologic, economic and social regeneration. In this op-ed, EARA outlines a critique of the flawed ways it sees farming being supported currently, while offering another approach – one grounded in the biological processes of photosynthesis performance and soil cover: KPIs for a regenerative future. […]

Food from Somewhere – IPES Food report on key role local food resilience plays

September 25, 2024 ARC

“Food from Somewhere” is a recent report from IPES-Food on territorial markets – localised food systems and chains. So what’s in it? This report finds a disaster prone, not fit-for-purpose food system being propped up by government policies and other supports. Meanwhile, localised food systems do the work of feeding people day in day out without anything like as much support. But there are options for better supporting food on the ground. […]

Marburg Food Dialogue – Putting more regional produce on the menu

July 8, 2024 ARC

How can restaurants serve more regional produce? A networking event at the Creativity and Social Innovation Hub Marburg (CIM) brought together local restaurant operators, suppliers, civil society actors and employees of the city and district to discuss this question. […]

Germany | Communications for Sustainable Food Systems – Bringing everyone along

June 28, 2024 ARC

In Marburg, Germany kollektiv von MORGEN (the collective of TOMORROW) is working with food education activists and other food system stakeholders to develop regional communication strategies around sustainable food. Building on ideas formulated at the European Action-Gathering for Sustainable Food Systems last November, participants of a recent workshop continued to shape plans for the region. […]

Op-Ed – The Solution to Free Half of European Arable Land from Pesticides

May 29, 2024 ARC

In this op-ed, Annemarie Botzki of FoodWatch International makes the case, and outlines a vision, for how European farms can to exit pesticides, crop by crop. […]

Land Grabbing is Back – This Time Risks are Even Greater

May 24, 2024 ARC

Fifteen years on from the ‘land rush’, a multi-pronged global land squeeze is forcing farmers and communities off the land – and Europe has a key role to play in fixing it. […]