Highlights report - 4th meeting of the Forum on Best Practices in the Agri-Food Supply Chain

The 4th edition of the Forum built on the conversations held during the three previous editions, with a similar format and a wide range of informed CAP stakeholders taking part in panels and group discussions. The opening interventions from the European Commission emphasised the critical role that farming plays in ensuring food security, the vitality of rural areas and the EU way of life, as well as the need for more equitable food systems that reward farmers and strengthen their role in the food chain. Followed a thought-provoking presentation on food chains, with challenging questions to the audience and an invitation to reflect on the nature and variety of their actors (e.g. majority of SMEs) and definitions of succes.

Participants worked in small groups to propose ideas for future Best Practice Forums and future EU CAP Network activities, which may look at a just green and digital transition for farming, consumer information, and short supply chain models and policies. A panel of experts then discussed best practices and strategies for transparent and equitable food value chains.

Sustainable Value Chains demand an understanding of our common social future - as stressed in the informative presentation that prepared further group discussion, each of them in turn opened with a short case-study presentation. The discussions enabled participants to share multiple examples of successful cross-sector cooperation at different scales, including public-private sector collaborations, and identified ideas to explore for future action.

Future EU CAP Network actions willl include Thematic Groups centred on farming and events focusing on successful exchanges and activity in the delivery of CAP Strategic Plans. The closing presentation highlighted the role of the EU CAP Network and National CAP Networks as relays for integrating the outputs from the forum into Member State activities, and stressed the importance of collective action, working together to enhance fair returns to farmers and showcasing best practice through initiatives such as the Agriculture and Rural Inspiration Awards (ARIA).