MED promotes seminar on the future of the agri-food sector in the face of social and climate challenges

The seminar ‘The future of the agri-food sector in the context of social and climate challenges’, promoted by the MED, took place yesterday, 13 March, in the Auditorium of the Colégio do Espírito Santo at the University of Évora. The event emphasised the importance of cooperation between research, production and public policies to ensure a sustainable, innovative and resilient agri-food sector.

The opening session featured speeches by Hermínia Vasconcelos Vilar, Rector of the University of Évora, who emphasised the relevance of the topic, stressing that in addition to social and climate challenges, the agri-food sector also faces significant geopolitical challenges. Fátima Baptista, Director of the MED, reinforced the MED’s role as a multidisciplinary research unit with the ‘ambition of finding solutions to real-world issues, supporting management optimisation, contributing to the resilience and productivity of production systems and promoting environmental and social benefits’.

Uno Svedin, President of EURAGRI (European Agricultural Research Initiative), guest speaker at the seminar, gave an overview of the process and results of the European Union’s Strategic Dialogue on the future of agriculture. He emphasised the need for a wide-ranging debate, drawing attention to the tensions between the rural and urban worlds and the importance of overcoming the differences between the various players in the agri-food sector. He also emphasised the crucial role of innovation and digitalisation, the need for food security and Europe’s strategic autonomy, and the 10 fundamental political principles outlined in the final report of the Strategic Dialogue, including the urgency of change, cooperation in the agri-food chain and valuing rural areas.

This was followed by a round table discussion moderated by journalist José Manuel Fernandes from Observador, with the participation of Álvaro Mendonça e Moura (President of CAP – Confederation of Portuguese Farmers), Francisco Ferreira (Researcher at CENSE&CHANGE and Professor at FCT-NOVA), Francisco Gomes da Silva (Professor at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon), Luís Ferreira (Coordinator of ANI’s Sustainability theme) and José Rafael Marques da Silva (Researcher at MED&CHANGE and Professor at the University of Évora). During the debate, structural and economic challenges were addressed, such as the need to reduce food waste and improve efficiency without compromising sustainability. Innovation and robotisation were also discussed as key solutions for the future of agriculture, as well as social issues such as dependence on immigration and the need for better working conditions in the sector. The debate also emphasised the importance of more agile policies and valuing farmers as environmental managers.

The closing session was once again attended by Hermínia Vasconcelos Vilar and Fátima Baptista, who were joined by José Manuel Fernandes, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. In his speech, the Minister highlighted food security as a matter of strategic defence and warned of the global challenges facing agriculture, including the scarcity of natural resources, climate change and the need for generational renewal. He emphasised the importance of guaranteeing adequate funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), maintaining a balance between sustainability and competitiveness. He also referred to the fundamental role of research and innovation, namely through the Horizon Europe programme, in meeting the challenges of the agri-food sector.

The seminar reinforced the need for a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to tackling the challenges facing the agri-food sector, anticipating changes in European policies and promoting adaptation and innovation strategies. In this context, the MED reaffirmed its commitment to promoting science and cooperation for a more sustainable and resilient agri-food future.