Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen stressed “European farmers and their cooperatives play a crucial role in this world, not only producing food to a growing world population but also ensuring growth and jobs in rural areas where often no other source of employment exists. They are the backbone of rural society and are key to achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They help to protect the environment, rural areas and biodiversity. With world demand expected to increase by 60% by 2050, their role will become increasingly important”.
"We have just launched a new recipe book to show consumers the story behind their food and to show how it is produced. We want to encourage them to spend more time cooking and eating with the family and to enjoy the benefits of agriculture", he added.
“For that reason, it will be more important than ever to ensure that we have a strong, competitive Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the future, with simple, common rules to enable farmers and their cooperatives to continue supplying quality food supplies, using limited resources, and to make sure that we have vibrant rural areas”, he insisted.
