Civil Society and grassroots gathering in Brussels 10th – 11th February 2015

Register here. Follow the event live on twitter and facebook.

The Agricultural and Rural Convention 2020 (ARC2020), Friends of the Earth Europe and IFOAM EU invite you to a civil society gathering and conference on February 10th and 11th 2015 in Brussels, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

This event brings together representatives from civil society, grassroots groups, researchers, national and regional authorities and policymakers to:

1. Assess the implementation of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014-2020 and its prospects of agricultural sustainability and of rural renaissance.

2. Identify milestones to support transition of food and agriculture systems based on agroecological approaches.

You are invited to participate in the development of a Civil Society roadmap towards good food, good farming and a living countryside!

Now is the time for the good food – goods farming movement in Europe to assess where we are, to develop a vision for where we want to be in 2020 and agree on a strategic roadmap how to get there. At this conference we will exchange ideas, assess the threats and opportunities, separate the spin from the substance, and generate this roadmap together.

Key areas for dialogue will include agroecological and social transformation, CAP reform now and in the future, international trade, rural economies and natural resources, and a common food policy based on sustainable food systems and diets.

ARC2020 had discussed for more than 6 month a Civil Society Communication on the CAP Reform demanding a paradigm shift in agricultural production and food consumption as well as a renaissance of the European countryside. Based upon these fundamental agreements (translated in 12 languages) we now invite Civil Society to review the situation and to start a renewed dialogue in order to agree on a roadmap towards the next food and agricultural reforms.

Who should attend?

Members of the ARC2020 and of organisations of farmers, environment, nature protection, consumers, health, food, rural and development organisations aiming at an integrated food, agricultural and rural development policy within the European Union as well as guests from other parts of the world. Scientists, decision makers, opinion leaders and politicians in the field as well as interested individuals ready to make a contribution to a truly sustainable food and agricultural policy.

Interpretation will be provided from DE/EN/FR/HU/ES into DE/EN/FR/HU

Contact:

Nele Roessler, ARC2020: brussels[@]arc2020.eu  (+32 497697888)
Stine Nielsen, Friends of the Earth Europe: stine.nielsen[@]foeeurope.org

For interesting updates, background info and introductions of our speakers join the event on Facebook.

Download the draft roadmap for comment.

Agenda

	DAY I – 10th February
9:00-10:30	Opening plenary:  CAP Implementation – towards good food and farming?
	Welcome by EESC Dilyana Slavova, President of the Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment at European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Jerzy Plewa, Director-general, DG AGRI Benoit Biteau, Vice President, Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, France Renate Künast, former German federal minister for agricultural and rural development Moderation by Arie van den Brandt, President, Groupe de Bruges, DEBATE
10:30-11:00	Coffee
11:00-12:30	Ingredients of an agro-ecological and social transformation
	Patrick Holden, Sustainable Food Trust, UK Erik Mathijs, Chair of SCAR 4th Foresight Report, KU Leuven Olivier de Schutter, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (co-chair), former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Moderation by Arie van den Brandt, President, Groupe de Bruges, DEBATE
12:30-13:00	Perspectives and introduction of the stakeholder workshops
	Led by: EESC members, Slow Food, European Milk Board (EMB), Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania, Save Our Seeds, Foundation on Future Farming, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Friends of the Earth Europe, IFOAM
13:00-14:30	Lunch Break
14:30-16:45	Stakeholder Workshops – lessons learnt and the road ahead
	1)      Towards greener and fairer CAP? Inputs: Sjoard Wartena (Terre de Liens), Garcia Arriola-Andoni (COAG tbc); Facilitator: Benny Haerlin ARC2020 Rapporteur:Samuel Féret ARC20202)      Supporting sustainable rural economies and natural resources Inputs: Andrea Calori (URGENCI), Michele Fino (Slow Food University) Facilitator: Robert Lukesh (ARC2020) Rapporteur:Stephen Meredith (IFOAM)3)      Markets and International Trade Inputs: Sieta van Kempeina (EMB), Karen Hansen Huhn (IATP) Facilitator: Adrian Bebb (FOE) Rapporteur:Karin Ulmer (APRODEV)4)      Towards a Common Food Policy – sustainable food systems and diets Inputs: Sue Dibb (Eating Better Alliance) Facilitator: Dorota Sienkiewitz (EPHA) Rapporteur: Robert Pederson (ARC2020)
16:45-17:00	Coffee
17:00-18:30	Stakeholder Workshops (continued)
19:00	Reception with songs and good spirits
	DAY II – 11th February
9:00-10:30	Towards a roadmap for agricultural sustainability and rural renaissance
	Conclusions from  stakeholder workshops DEBATE
10:30-11:00	Coffee
11:00-12:30	Plenary: Recommendations for policymakers and civil society further actions
	Recommendations for the European Commission and Member States Actions for the future towards a new ARC2020 roadmap
12:30	Closing speech: Benny Haerlin (Save our Seeds)
13:00	Lunch and goodbye