European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Hansen at the first Food Dialogue "Reestablishing the essential link between farming, territory and food" Brussels, 5 March 2026 Good morning, everyone, It is a real pleasure to welcome you to this first session of the 2026 Food Dialogues. For the first time, the European Commission has a portfolio that brings together agriculture and food. ...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Hansen at the first Food Dialogue "Reestablishing the essential link between farming, territory and food" Brussels, 5 March 2026 Good morning, everyone, It is a real pleasure to welcome you to this first session of the 2026 Food Dialogues. For the first time, the European Commission has a portfolio that brings together agriculture and food. As Commissioner responsible for both, I attach particular importance to this moment. Because food is not simply a policy area. It touches every European citizen, every territory, every community. Around this table we have a diversity of perspectives: representatives of European institutions from the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, cities and local authorities, farmers' organisations, food industry and retail representatives, consumer organisations, trade unions, environmental NGOs, think tanks, and researchers. Many of you have also contributed ideas and suggestions over the past year as we prepared these dialogues. This diversity reflects a simple truth: food policy only works when the entire food system is part of the conversation. And that is precisely the spirit behind the Vision for Agriculture and Food, which we presented one year ago. In that Vision we committed to shaping the future of Europe's food systems together with those who are part of them. A different way of working. We listen. We engage. And we act. The Food Dialogues are designed to bring this approach to life. We have not come here to go through a checklist, but to agree on concrete steps to strengthen our food systems. Today, we are handing you the microphone. Food is not just another sector of our economy, but the foundation of our societies and our future. The European agri-food ecosystem employs around 13 million people across farming and food processing. It represents almost 9% of EU exports , Food and beverage sector generates around €299 billion in added value more than agriculture itself. The European Union also remains the world's largest exporter of food and drink , recognised globally for quality, safety and excellence. But food is not only about economics. Food connects people across territories and regions. It connects farmers with consumers, and urban centres with rural communities It links land with identity, traditions and roots. This is also true when we look history: the earliest codified words in human language refer to agriculture, to land, crops and the production of food. In many ways, civilisation first described the world through food. Food and farming are not only economic activities, they are strategic part of our culture, our identity and our history. We cannot ignore the strategic importance of agri-food sector. Strengthening it requires investment in innovation, resilience and value creation across the food chain. The Commission's priorities are clear: simplification, diversification of trade, a stronger Single Market, digital transformation, and strategic investment . At the same time, our food systems are evolving. Supply chains are longer, food is more processed, and affordability remains a concern for many households. Adjusting to these evolutions calls for closer engagement with farmers, food chain operators, local authorities and civil society. This is why we are launching the Food Dialogues. They bring together the entire food system to address key challenges such as competitiveness, sustainability and food affordability. These dialogues are not a presentation from the Commission, but a future-looking conversation with you. The 2026 Food Dialogues will be organised around two thematic blocks. Today's session focuses on re-establishing the link between farming, territory and food, including through: local and seasonal sourcing, food produced with high standards, including organic production, and shorter, more transparent supply chains. Many of these solutions must be developed locally, where authorities can engage directly with businesses, consumers and civil society while considering the great geographical and cultural diversity across our territories. Rightly, one powerful tool to strengthen connection between food, territory and markets is public procurement. According to a 2024 estimate, by our Joint research Centre, public authorities spend around €33 billion every year on food procurement. It represents about 5.2% of total food expenditure in food services. Public procurement has real leverage to drive markets towards more resilient food systems. Food procurement in schools, hospitals and public canteens can support: local and seasonal sourcing, shorter supply chains, high environmental and social standards, including organic production, and territorial resilience. But food procurement also goes beyond simply purchasing goods . In public institutions, food provision is closely linked to nutrition, education, cultural identity and social inclusion. We already deliver on this through our EU School Scheme It encourages fresh and seasonal products, direct links with farmers, and shorter supply chains, often through farm visits and educational activities. Many of the cities and local authorities represented here today are already leading the way in conscious public procurement. I would like to welcome and thank you for that commitment. At the same time, there is still significant potential to go further. This is why the Commission is preparing a revision of EU public procurement rules, expected in 2026. And this discussion is directly relevant to that work. The insights from today's dialogue may help clarify the food dimension in the upcoming public procurement proposal prepared by our colleagues in DG GROW, including how procurement frameworks can better recognise quality schemes such as geographical indications and other products linked to territories. So once again, your experience and expertise are essential. Dear Participants, Shaping the future of Europe's food systems requires collective intelligence . Once again, the microphone is yours . We look forward to your clear and constructive contributions to the discussion. SPEECH/26/560
Speech Brief