Copa and Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen stressed “The Strategy is a positive step in further developing the bioeconomy in the EU. We welcome the fact that the update aims to strengthen sustainability and deliver on jobs and growth as well as support valorization of local resources and involve more effectively primary producers in the supply chain. In addition, it promotes more policy coherence”.
A stronger link between the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the bioeconomy is in everyone's interests. It is good news that the Commission has prioritized the bioeconomy in its plans on the Future of Food and Farming.”.
The future action plan for the Strategy should highlight the importance of the future CAP in supporting the further development of the bioeconomy. This could be by providing the right tools to promote active land management, prevent land abandonment, support investments to foster innovation and to stimulate precision farming and forestry for a more efficient use of resources.
In addition, the farming sector needs advisory services, knowledge transfer and training adapted to its needs to maximise the potential .
Producer organisations such as cooperatives play an important role in further developing the bioeconomy. Their role should be enhanced to continue to create added value for farmers.
Copa and Cogeca will present its views on the consultation opened by the European Commission on this important issue for the future of farming
