How can we future-proof European farming systems?

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Diversifying Europe’s farming systems: key insights for farmers, policymakers, and businesses

The future of farming in Europe demands urgent attention and action. ProVeg International’s policy brief, Future-fit farming: advancing resilience and sustainability in European agriculture, provides a roadmap to address the challenges faced by the agricultural sector. It advocates for a holistic approach to food and agriculture that prioritizes sustainable practices, farmer wellbeing, and ecosystem health.

Focusing on diversification, sustainability, and resilience, our policy brief outlines actionable on-farm solutions and policy recommendations to transform European farming into a sustainable and future-ready system.

This article synthesizes key takeaways from the brief and offers practical steps for individuals, businesses, farmers, organizations, and policymakers to support the diversification of production systems. Read on to discover how you can get involved.

The need for diversified production systems

European agriculture is under immense pressure due to climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable farming practices. Current systems often rely on intensive monoculture and animal agriculture, both of which exacerbate environmental degradation and economic vulnerabilities. Diversifying production systems is essential for:

Improving resilience: Diverse food systems can better withstand climate shocks and market fluctuations.
Enhancing sustainability: Reduced reliance on resource-intensive practices mitigates environmental harm.
Supporting economic stability: Diversified farms can tap into emerging markets for plant-based and alternative protein products and more effectively resist market volatility.
Improving rural livelihoods: Future-proofed farms can reduce pressures on farmers.

On-farm solutions for a sustainable future

Our policy brief emphasizes the importance of adopting diversified farming practices to enhance ecological balance and long-term viability. Key on-farm solutions include:

1. Increasing production of plant-based, alternative protein, and speciality crops

As evidence of the health and climate benefits of plant-based diets grows, consumer demand is shifting, creating stronger economic incentives for livestock producers to diversify toward plant-based food production.

Farmers could utilize the increasing demand for plant-based food and produce more fruit, vegetables, and plant-based protein crops. This approach would improve soil health and biodiversity while also creating substantial income opportunities for farmers (potentially tapping into a whole new market!).

It’s also a way for farmers to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, reduce water use, and increase land efficiency. Additionally, diverse crops enhance nutrient cycling and reduce the need for synthetic inputs, improving soil fertility and reducing pest outbreaks. Plus, diversifying production improves soil health, conserves ecosystems, and boosts agrobiodiversity by introducing species like legumes into farming systems.¹

2. Expanding plant-based protein crop processing and manufacturing

True agricultural diversification needs to extend beyond just production. To fully realize the market potential of plant-based protein crops, a value chain – from seed to food product – is essential, with a clearly defined role for farmers in the creation of new end products.

When asked for their insights, representatives from European farming organizations emphasized that future food technologies, such as alternative proteins, could reduce their roles to mere contract suppliers, cutting them out of the value-adding stages. By engaging in additional activities, farmers can embrace new economic opportunities that extend beyond the production of raw materials. For example, market gardening, value-added processing (e.g. making jam or canning vegetables), intermediary processing, capacity building, or market awareness.

Actionable steps:

Farmers can explore market opportunities for high-demand plant-based crops, diversifying from animal feed crops.
Farmers can engage in market gardening or value-added processing, embracing new economic opportunities that extend beyond the production of raw materials.
Depending on the specific crop value chain, farmers could engage as input providers or partner with companies for intermediary processing.
Farmers can repurpose infrastructure previously used in animal agriculture (like using former chicken barns for mushroom cultivation) for use in speciality crop production.
Businesses in the food industry can prioritize plant-based ingredients grown on small, local farms, supporting farmers to diversify.
Policymakers can fund research and development for alternative protein crops to improve growing methods and efficiency.

3. Adopting organic and/or regenerative farming practices

Diversified practices such as organic and regenerative approaches can strengthen resilience and promote self-sufficiency for farmers. They also help to integrate productivity with ecological health, emphasizing shorter supply chains and fairer resource distribution.

Additionally, organic and/or regenerative methods can further improve farmers’ income, soil health, and overall farm sustainability while reducing inputs. However, converting to organic is a big investment and farmers must be assured of long-term certainty from the outset.

Actionable steps:

Farmers can meet with local organic and/or regenerative farms or farming networks for advice and support on moving to organic and/or regenerative farming methods (i.e. VON, Tolhurst Farm).
Farmers can collaborate with local buyers and businesses to establish shorter supply chains for organic products.
Policymakers should leverage public procurement opportunities for organic products in schools, hospitals, and other institutions to help create a future-demand base for farmers.
Farmers, businesses, organizations, and policymakers can advocate for subsidy reforms that prioritize organic and regenerative farming practices.
Policymakers and organizations should invest in infrastructure and training programs to support farmers in adopting sustainable methods.
All stakeholders should support public awareness campaigns to drive demand for organic and regenerative products.

Policy recommendations to enable change

Achieving a sustainable and diversified farming future requires robust policy interventions. ProVeg makes several policy recommendations:

1. Reform agricultural subsidies

Increase the proportion of CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) subsidies that are allocated to sustainable crop production as a way to incentivize diversification.
Implement true-cost accounting in food production by integrating environmental and health costs into CAP subsidies.

2. Improve access to capital and funding

Develop value chains that empower farmers to capture more value from diversified production, supported by infrastructure and market development.
Establish a dedicated grant fund to help farmers diversify their crops and shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices and products.
Increase access to low- and no-interest loans to help farmers develop viable and sustainable businesses that meet evolving consumer demands.

3. Develop knowledge and infrastructure systems

Establish comprehensive technical assistance and infrastructure development programmes.
Launch public trials with farmers and create model-demonstration networks to inform technical support for diversifying farming practices and improving regional supply chains.
Set up peer-to-peer knowledge exchange programs to facilitate collaboration and skill-sharing among farmers.

4. Drive demand for sustainable produce

Introduce minimum requirements for plant-based and organic foods in public food procurement policies.
Lower VAT rates on plant-based and organic products to make sustainable options more accessible to consumers.

5. Foster farmer-forward policies

Build long-term support systems for farmers that are focused on autonomy and community engagement.
Streamline reporting requirements to reduce the administrative burden on farmers.

What can you do?

Regardless of your role, there are tangible ways to support the shift toward diversified and sustainable farming systems:

As an individual:

Choose plant-based and sustainably sourced products.
Advocate for policies that support agricultural diversification.
Support local farmers practicing sustainable methods.

As a business:

Collaborate with suppliers who prioritize diversified farming.
Invest in alternative protein product lines.
Engage in advocacy efforts for sustainable agriculture policies.
Educate consumers about the sustainability of your supply chains and where their food comes from. Encouraging transparency and communication will help reconnect consumers with the challenges farmers face, fostering greater support for sustainable practices.
Collaborate with farmers to secure stable contracts for plant-based ingredients.
Partner with academic institutions to pilot innovative farming solutions.

As an organization:

Provide technical and financial support to farmers transitioning to diversified systems.
Advocate for policy changes that align with sustainable agriculture.
Partner with stakeholders to drive awareness and uptake of plant-based foods.
Advocate for transparency in subsidy allocations.
Facilitate forums for knowledge exchange that bring together farmers, local communities, governments, and industry partners.
Help to create platforms that connect producers with buyers.
Run and support public campaigns promoting sustainable, plant-rich diets.

As a farmer:

Where possible, explore agroforestry, organic, regenerative, and/or crop diversification techniques.
Increase your plant-based crop production.
Join networks and initiatives promoting sustainable European farming.
Engage in policy discussions to voice the benefits of diversification.
Participate in workshops and training programs to learn about diversification practices.
Collaborate with industry partners to stay connected to consumer trends and opportunities in emerging sectors like plant-based proteins.

As a policymaker:

Design and implement policies and frameworks that incentivize diversification.
Support research, innovation, education, and peer-to-peer networking initiatives.
Reallocate subsidies to sustainable farming practices.
Mandate the inclusion of organic and regenerative products in public procurement (schools, hospitals, etc.).
Increase funding for agroecology and plant-based research.
Run public campaigns promoting sustainable, plant-rich diets.
Create funding structures to support rural development. The establishment of a temporary Agri-food Just Transition Fund (AJTF) and mobilization of public-private capital are recommended.

Support infrastructure development for processing and distribution.
Establish comprehensive technical assistance and infrastructure development programs.

Conclusion

The transition to a diversified and sustainable agricultural system is not just an environmental imperative but an economic and social opportunity.

By adopting the on-farm solutions and supporting the policy recommendations outlined in our Future-fit farming brief, all stakeholders can play a part in building a resilient and future-ready European farming sector.