“How will we always have the food we need?” The new Community program Secure Food, in which the Consumers’ Quality of Life Association (EKPOIZO) participates, contributes to this question and aims to combat food insecurity.
The European Union, as noted in a statement by EKPOIZO, responding to the crises and looming future threats affecting its agri-food chain, was led to decisions that change the way food is produced and consumed in Europe.
These changes aim to reduce the environmental footprint of food systems, to strengthen their resilience to crises and their ability to subsequently recover, to permanently ensure healthy and affordable food even for future generations.
Food sustainability is a priority in Europe
Factoring into these decisions was the fact that the agri-food sector has a significant impact on the environment, as one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food systems.
Therefore, the sustainability of food in Europe is now a priority of the EU’s wider strategy to reduce the environmental impact until 2050 and the European Green Deal, which also includes the agri-food sector (Farm to Fork strategy ).
What is Secure Food?
As part of this policy, the EU funds programs such as Secure Food, which attempts to create a Food System that includes all stages, from production to consumption, so that the supply chain is more resilient, able to respond to future crises, while respecting the environment.
More specifically, Secure Food will identify in real time the risks, obstacles and weaknesses of the various sectors in the food production and supply chain and propose appropriate interventions and adaptations to strengthen their resilience and ensure their smooth operation, both both short term and long term.
This will be possible through a digital platform, ‘twin’ with the real one, which will be created after studying-analyzing-drawing conclusions-acquiring knowledge of specific events, such as e.g. that of Ukraine’s grain production – supply affected by the current war.
Targeting evolving scientific knowledge, Secure Food fosters collaboration between producers, industries, retailers, consumers and transporters to apply innovative tools to address food sufficiency challenges and build resilient, safe and sustainable food systems.
The project, which started in January 2024, involves 35 partners from different parts of the food supply chain across Europe and will run for three and a half years, until June 2027.
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