{"id":34604,"date":"2025-03-24T18:23:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T17:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/?p=34604"},"modified":"2025-03-24T18:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T17:25:12","slug":"ensuring-an-inclusive-farm-to-fork-strategy-within-the-european-green-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/2025\/03\/24\/ensuring-an-inclusive-farm-to-fork-strategy-within-the-european-green-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensuring an inclusive Farm to Fork strategy within the European Green Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/euagenda.eu\/publications\/download\/620240\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Document<\/span><\/a> is the second policy paper of the ACCTING project, which is funded by the European Union&#039;s Horizon 2020 program. The ACCTING project addresses the impacts of Green Deal policies on <!--more-->the behavior of individuals and groups, especially vulnerable ones, and explores how to effectively integrate gender and intersectional perspectives to support an inclusive and socially just European Green Deal.<\/p>\n<p>This particular document focuses on the transition to <strong>sustainable food production and consumption<\/strong> and on <strong>equal access to sufficient, safe, nutritious and sustainable food<\/strong>, which is one of the sub-objectives of the European Green Deal strategy &quot;From Farm to Fork&quot;. The document is addressed to the European Commission as a policy maker and as a provider of research funding.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Evidence and analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ACCTING project research points to <strong>significant challenges associated with access to environmentally friendly food<\/strong> (local, seasonal, organic and affordable) in urban areas. Key barriers include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lack of proximity to shops<\/strong> with affordable environmentally friendly foods or <strong>lack of knowledge<\/strong> about where to find such stores.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of public transport<\/strong> in areas where vulnerable groups live, which limits access to supermarkets and farmers&#039; markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>High costs<\/strong> to these foods, even when access to them is physically possible, making them inaccessible to many.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Time-consuming<\/strong> associated with the consumption of seasonal and local foods due to their limited availability in stores and the need to visit multiple stores.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of access to land<\/strong> to grow food and to farmers markets to sell it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Social barriers<\/strong> behavioral changes, such as unsupportive family members and lack of supportive community networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Research has identified <strong>street markets and small market stalls<\/strong> as key resources that offer affordable options with fresh, seasonal and local food and can also save vulnerable users time and bridge transport gaps. <strong>City gardens<\/strong> have a positive impact on addressing economic needs and promoting sustainable food consumption.<\/p>\n<p>In the area <strong>food production<\/strong> ACCTING research has shown that many governments do not <strong>coherent policies to facilitate the transition to less environmentally friendly agriculture<\/strong>, leading to insecurity and exclusion of small farmers. High agricultural costs and economic uncertainty prevent them from adapting. This problem is exacerbated by <strong>urban sprawl into suburban areas<\/strong>, leading to the loss of fertile arable land. Small farmers face <strong>lack of public and political support<\/strong> and are gradually being squeezed out of agricultural production. Some small farmers have therefore resorted to <strong>cooperation<\/strong> (collective procurement, sharing of tools and equipment), but still face <strong>unequal competition<\/strong> with bigger players.<\/p>\n<p>Research highlights <strong>the important role of women<\/strong> in both food consumption and production. In consumption, women play a leading role in ensuring family food security and nutrition and contribute to responsible household waste management. In production, they are actively involved in various aspects of farming and food processing. <strong>Cooperation<\/strong> is essential for women, especially entrepreneurs in the food sector, to withstand the competition of large multinational companies. ACCTING therefore emphasizes the importance <strong>policies and support for smallholder farming that take gender inclusiveness into account<\/strong>, with the aim of empowering small farmers and especially women.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Identified knowledge gaps<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ACCTING identified several key knowledge gaps that need to be further explored:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Intersectional data and analysis:<\/strong> The need for multidimensional data and methods to understand how different inequalities intersect and affect people&#039;s ability to change behavior towards the goals of the EU Green Deal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consumption:<\/strong> Lack of options and motivation to reduce consumption of foods with higher environmental impact and the need to explore how to motivate policymakers and other actors to address overconsumption.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Changing norms and masculinity:<\/strong> The need for deeper exploration of how gender socialization (masculinity) influences food sustainability and how it can be transformed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The role of authorities and legislation:<\/strong> The need for research focused on trust and the role of simplified legislation among marginalized and vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intergenerational and intercultural dialogue:<\/strong> Potential for exchange between generations and cultures in promoting sustainable values and practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Policy implications and recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ACCTING formulates recommendations for the European Commission as a policymaker and research grant provider.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Policy recommendations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create programs to stimulate supermarkets<\/strong> to offer environmentally friendly, local, seasonal and organic products (setting quotas, tax breaks) and introduce stricter definitions and regulations of these concepts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support community-based local initiatives and food cooperatives<\/strong> with the aim of shortening supply chains and expanding access to food, along with financial incentives for urban farming and farmers&#039; transition to organic or agroecological agriculture.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Facilitate access to information<\/strong> about places where nutritious, environmentally sustainable and affordable food can be found (online platforms, awareness campaigns).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Establish urban gardens<\/strong> in low-income areas and provide financial support and educational programs on growing healthy foods.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support farmers markets<\/strong> in marginalized areas, to reserve space for the sale of local products and to simplify certification processes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reflect environmental impacts into prices<\/strong> through pricing mechanisms at EU level (e.g. taxes related to transport distances, water consumption, pesticide use) and to adapt the prices of certification processes to the size of the farm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Expand the concept of the &quot;15-minute city&quot;<\/strong> to suburban areas (e.g. through multifunctional green corridors).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prioritize local and seasonal foods<\/strong> in public procurement.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implement new policies<\/strong> at all levels of government to support local food strategies and gender-inclusive implementation of the European Green Deal in rural areas and smallholder farming, including:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Incentive<\/strong> for environmentally sustainable and gender inclusive smallholder farming practices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Financially and technologically affordable alternatives<\/strong> to certification systems (e.g. participatory guarantee systems).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support for farmers&#039; right to seed<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Regulations<\/strong> requiring priority for products from local farmers (especially women and minority groups) in public procurement.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extensions of participatory urban planning<\/strong> on issues of agricultural production in urban areas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gender-inclusive mechanisms<\/strong> for networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gender-inclusive education and training programs<\/strong> for small farmers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Recommendations for the European Commission as a research provider<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Intersectional data and analysis:<\/strong> Fund research to improve methodological approaches to understanding food security, dietary sustainability, and food utilization among vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consumption:<\/strong> Fund research aimed at promoting agri-food literacy, diversifying food options for vulnerable groups and addressing issues related to the transition to a vegetarian\/plant-based diet, leveraging educational organizations, access to food security information, and connecting schools to urban gardens and farms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Changing norms and masculinity:<\/strong> Prioritize initiatives that strengthen sustainable food values and explore the dynamics of the impact of these values on sustainable food decisions, particularly with regard to gender differences and the role of masculinities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The role of authorities and legislation:<\/strong> Invest in research on the role of urban agriculture, its enabling conditions and barriers, as well as important institutions and policies for improving food security and sustainable consumption with an intersectional gender perspective.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intergenerational and intercultural dialogue:<\/strong> Support research on community initiatives as tools for change and reaching out to vulnerable communities, and on linking traditional practices and values with the promotion of environmental behavior.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Further reading<\/strong>: The document refers to other ACCTING project publications that deal with similar topics.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About the ACCTING project<\/strong>: The project focuses on addressing the social, economic and political aspects of the climate crisis and reducing inequalities arising in the context of the European Green Deal policies. It aims to support an inclusive and socially just Green Deal through research, experimentation and innovation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Project consortium<\/strong>: Lists the organizations that make up the ACCTING project consortium.<\/p>\n<p>The document highlights that the climate crisis has uneven impacts and that vulnerable groups are the most affected. The ACCTING project aims to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive transition to food sustainability through research and concrete policy recommendations. <em><strong>Spring<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Glossary of Key Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>European Green Deal:<\/strong> A comprehensive European Union strategy aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050, promoting a sustainable economy, protecting biodiversity and reducing pollution.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Farm to Fork Strategy:<\/strong> A key part of the European Green Deal, aimed at creating a sustainable food system that is healthy, fair and environmentally friendly throughout the food chain.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gender perspective:<\/strong> An approach that analyzes and takes into account differences and inequalities between women and men, as well as social constructs of gender, when creating policies and measures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intersectionality:<\/strong> A concept that recognizes that different aspects of an individual&#039;s social identity (e.g., gender, race, class, disability) intersect to create unique experiences of discrimination and inequality.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Food security:<\/strong> A state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sustainable food consumption:<\/strong> Choosing and consuming food in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment, human health and society, while supporting economic viability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Small farmers:<\/strong> Agricultural producers who farm a relatively small area of land and whose production often serves to ensure the livelihood of the family or for the local market.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Community-led local initiatives:<\/strong> Projects and activities that are initiated and managed by members of the local community to address their specific needs and problems, often in the areas of food, energy or social inclusion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Urban gardens:<\/strong> Spaces in urban environments where residents grow vegetables, fruits, herbs or flowers, often with the aim of improving access to fresh food, strengthening community and promoting environmental awareness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Public procurement:<\/strong> The process by which public authorities purchase goods, services and works from external suppliers. In the context of food, it includes the purchase of food for schools, hospitals, offices and other public institutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The document is the second policy paper of the ACCTING project, which is funded by the European Union&#039;s Horizon 2020 program. The ACCTING project addresses the impacts of Green Deal policies on<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adaptacia-na-zmenu-klimy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34604\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}