European Union
May 7, 2026
Five European Technology Platforms (ETPs), together with nine organisations from across the agri-food sector, have issued a joint statement urging EU policymakers to recognise agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems as strategic sectors within the future European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and the next EU Research & Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon Europe.
At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, climate challenges, and economic pressure, the signatories stress that agriculture, aquaculture and food systems are essential to Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy. The sector plays a vital role in ensuring food security, supporting rural economies, contributing to climate objectives, and strengthening sustainable biomass supply and industrial value chains across the EU.
The statement calls on the European Parliament and Member States to:
- Explicitly include agriculture, bioeconomy, and food within the scope of Policy Window 2 of the ECF and Horizon Europe;
- Ensure sufficient and dedicated funding for agri-food research and innovation;
- Guarantee balanced representation of all agri-food stakeholders in EU priority-setting and programming processes.
The signatories underline that innovation in agriculture, aquaculture and food systems is not only key to sustainability goals, but also essential for Europe’s long-term economic resilience and global leadership, while reaffirming their readiness to work constructively with EU institutions to ensure that these key areas receive the strategic attention needed in Europe’s future competitiveness and innovation policies.
Read the full statement
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