The High Level Group on Biosphere Economy Innovation was launched in January 2018.

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Europe is an important exporter, but the supply of healthy, affordable food to the world’s growing population is complicated by the increasing impact of climate change, even if it is facilitated by advances in science and agricultural technology. 

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The challenge for policy makers everywhere is to design the appropriate framework conditions for farmers to invest in order to produce what the people want and to benefit from the fruits of their labour. The key challenge is supporting country-owned programs that improve agricultural productivity and farmers’ income to supply enough affordable food and improve its nutritional qualities, while preserving healthy soil and water systems and biodiversity and eliminating carbon emissions as well as providing additional income for farmers .

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To meet these challenges at home and abroad, future EU policy should focus on promoting regenerative agriculture and supporting the widespread introduction of new technologies, including for smallholders, young farmers and in disadvantaged areas - like digital and precision agriculture, data-driven tools and climate-smart farming - thus ensuring a renaissance of rural economies. Such investments will bring multiple benefits such as improving farmers’ income, reducing environmental and biodiversity pressures, carbon capture and storage, improving public health and workers’ productivity. The interdependence between farming and forestry merits special attention because both sectors are dependent on soil and water and affected by climate change. The multiple pay backs for governments merit the coordinated mobilisation of public and private capital. This requires an inclusive perspective of the entire value chain, from production methods to distribution and consumption, in permanent dialogue with stakeholders.  

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 This HLG is chaired by Phil Hogan, former EU Commissioner for Agriculture.

Previous chair: José Silva Rodriguez, former director general for Agriculture in the Commission.