The European Board on Agriculture and Food appoints its members, following the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture

The European Commission has appointed 30 member organisations to join the European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF). These organisations represent the rural and farming community, other actors active in the food supply chain, and civil society, such as environment and climate, animal welfare and consumer protection groups. The selected organisations demonstrate a broad competence and expertise in areas relevant to agriculture and food at Union level, and display a wide geographical representativeness across Member States. The first meeting of the Board, chaired by Commissioner for Food and Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, will take place on 4 February.

President von der Leyen said : “With the creation of a European Board on Agriculture and Food, we implement one of the key recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, which I launched last year. The new culture of consultation and dialogue will live on”.

Commissioner Hansen said: “I would like to congratulate the organisations selected to join our new European Board on Agriculture and Food. I look forward to benefitting from their advice and practical experience in shaping our agricultural policies. I also encourage members to continue talking to each other and to maintain the spirit of consensus fostered by the Strategic Dialogue. In our common interest, we must put behind us the polarised discussions and work together for the future.”

The European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF) was set up on 5 December 2024 and will provide high-level advice to the Commission on the follow-up of the report of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture. It will also contribute to the work on the Vision for Agriculture and Food, to be presented within the first 100 days of the mandate. This Advisory Board aims at sustaining a new culture of dialogue, trust and multistakeholder participation among farmers, the actors of the food supply chain and civil society, as well as with the Commission.