The Brussels Development Briefing n. 59 on “Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems” organised by CTA, the European Commission/EuropeAid, the ACP Secretariat, CONCORD and IPES-FOOD was held on Wednesday 15 January 2020 (9h00-13h00) at the ACP Secretariat, Avenue Georges Henri 451, 1200 Brussels. The briefing brought various perspectives and experiences on agroecological systems to support agricultural transformation. Experts presented trends and prospects for agroecological approaches and what it implies for the future of the food systems. Successes and innovative models in agroecology in different parts of the world and the lessons learned for upscaling them were also discussed.

1. Emile A. Frison– IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Agroecology to achieve the SDGs and
meeting the Paris climate targets
EMILE A. FRISON

2. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
JUNE2016

3. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Our current food systems are not
sustainable
Triple burden of malnutrition
• Hunger, micronutrient deficiencies, obesity &NCDs
Negative impact on health
• Pesticide poisoning, antibiotic resistance, nitrates in drinking water
Environmentally unsustainable
• Biodiversity losses, water pollution, soil degradation, GHG emissions,
unsustainable use of natural resources, low resilience …
Social inequities
• Poverty, disempowerment …
Neglect of cultural values
 Directly associated with current food systems based on
industrial agriculture

4. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
We need transformational change
IPBES report on land degradation 2018
TEEB for Agriculture and Food 2018
IPBES report on Biodiversity 2019
HLPE report on Agroecology 2019
IDDRI report on Agroecology 2019
IPCC report on CC & land 2019
GSDR 2019

5. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
A different paradigm: diversified
agroecological systems
◦ Economic
◦ Environmental
◦ Health
◦ Social
◦ Cultural
Agroecology is not just a set of agricultural practices, but is also about changing
social relations, empowering farmers, adding value locally and privileging short
value chains.

6. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Economic outcomes of diversified
agroecological systems
◦Total productivity  =
◦Income  +
◦Resilience and stability  +++
→ Agroecology: to get out of poverty

7. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Outcomes of diversified agroecological
systems: productivity

8. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Increased economic performance
Country Indicator Performance A Versus
Conventional
Netherlands Income/kg of milk + 110%
France Income/family worker + 73%
Germany Income/dairy cow + 60%
Italy Income/hour + 15%
Ireland Gross margins per hectare +75-80%
Poland Income/farmer + 53%
Spain Gross Value Added + 35%
Jan Douwe van der Ploeg, et al., Journal of Rural Studies,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.09.003

9. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Environmental outcomes
of diversified agroecological systems
• Keep/put carbon in the soil: turns
agriculture into a solution rather
than a problem
• Boost biodiversity
• Restore degraded land
• Improve ecosystem services:
◦ Water and nutrient cycling
◦ Pollination
◦ Pest and disease management
“In summary, increasing the resilience of the food system through agroecology
and diversification is an effective way to achieve climate change adaptation
(robust evidence, high agreement).”
IPCC, 2019: Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL), Ch5 p51

10. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Nutrition and health outcomes
◦ Avoids the negative health outcomes of industrial
agriculture: pesticides/antibiotics/nitrates
◦ Diverse, healthy diets
◦ Increased levels of beneficial nutrients, such as omega 3
fatty acids, and antioxidants such as polyphenols…
◦ http://www.ipes-
food.org/images/Reports/Health_FullReport.pdf

11. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Social and Cultural outcomes
 Social:
More employment
 Employment throughout the year
 Closer links with consumers
Cultural:
Cultivation of diversity of traditional crops
 Integration of traditional knowledge

12. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020

13. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
What prevents change: 8 Lock-ins

14. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Market concentration in multiple sectors
• 3 companies control 60% of commercial seed
market.
• 7 companies control majority of fertilizer sales.
• 3 companies share 71% of agrochemical market.
• 4 firms account for 97% of private R&D in poultry.
• 4 firms control up to 90% of the global grain trade.

15. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

16. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Changing the
paradigm

17. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Measuring what matters

18. Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
The transition is already underway…

19. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Different pathways, common goal

20. Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD
Brussels Briefing on Agroecology, 15 January 2020
Thank you!
www.ipes-food.org

21. Research
and
Innovation
Horizon Europe
This presentation is delivered by a member of a Horizon Europe Mission
Board, which is an informal group of experts set up by the European
Commission to provide advice for the identification and implementation
of missions in the future Horizon Europe programme. The contents of the
presentation do not represent the official views of the European Commission
nor do they constitute a commitment of any kind on its behalf.
#HorizonEU #Eumissions #MissionSoil
MISSION BOARD FOR SOIL
HEALTH AND FOOD

22. Research and innovation missions
 Strong visibility and impact on society and policy-
making through science and technology
 Achieve a bold, inspirational and measurable goal that
could not be attained through individual actions within a
set timeframe
 Find solutions to some of the major challenges faced
by European citizens

23. Adaptation to climate
change, including societal
transformation
Cancer
Healthy
oceans,
seas, coastal
and inland
waters
Soil health
and food
Climate-neutral
and smart cities
5 mission
areas

24. We know more about the
movement of celestial bodies than
we know about the soil underfoot
Leonardo da Vinci, about 1500 AD
Why a mission in the area of
soil health and food?

25. Soil health and food - Who is involved?
 Mission area managed across EU Commission services: co-lead by
DG AGRI (secretariat) and DG RTD + DGs CLIMA, ENV, JRC, MARE,
SANTE, ENER and MOVE
 Creation of Mission Board to develop ideas for one or more possible
missions in the area of soil health and food
 Mission board can be supported by members of a Mission Assembly
 Stakeholders and citizens will contribute to the development and
implementation of the mission through co-design, co-implementation and
co-assessment

26.  Soils perform a range of vital functions and deliver public goods:
- provision of healthy food, clean water, biodiversity, nutrient
cycling, carbon storage, cultural services
- these functions are interdependent!
 Land/soils are a scarce and non-renewable resource;
 Soils are fragile ecosystems and threatened by unsustainable land
management, urbanization and climate change
 Land/Soils are at the center of major societal challenges (food
security, food safety, loss of biodiversity, climate mitigation and
adaptation);
 Solutions require a systems approach: addressing the various types
of land use and soil functions and creating broad partnerships
Why a mission on soil health and food?
Ambition: “Healthy soils for healthy people and
a healthy planet”!

27. Mission area is critical to meet global political commitments such
as the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals
And it is highly relevant for new Commission priorities, notably the
Green Deal
Land/soil management is relevant
to major policy objectives on:
 food and nutrition security
 climate change mitigation
 protection of biodiversity
 reduction of pollution
 vibrant rural areas
Soil health and food – at the right time!

28. Cees
VEERMAN (NL)
Teresa
PINTO-CORREIA (PT)
Catia
BASTIOLI (IT)
Borbala
BIRO (HU)
Johan
BOUMA (NL)
Emil
CIENCIALA (CZ)
Bridget Anne
EMMET (UK)
Lachezar Hristov
FILCHEV (BG)
Emile Antoine
FRISON (BE)
Alfred
GRAND (AT)
Marta
POGRZEBA (PL)
Jean-François
SOUSSANA (FR)
Zita
KRIAUČIŪNIENĖ (LT)
Carmen
VELA OLMO (ES)
Rainer
WITTKOWSKI (DE)
Soil health and food – Mission Board
Chair Vice-Chair

29. Steps towards Horizon Europe Strategic
Plan & Missions in the Work Programme
Start of Horizon Europe
Summer
2019
2020
Autumn-
winter
2019/2020
Extensive exchanges with the European Parliament
Identification of missions based on advice from
the Mission Boards
Establishment of Mission Boards
Start of exchanges with Member States
Research & Innovation Days 24 – 26 September
2021
Extensive programme of citizens engagement
Drafting first Horizon Europe Work Programme for
missions identified in Strategic Plan

30. Communication and engagement:
mission impossible!
World Soil Day – video - tweet:
more than 30 000 visualisations in less than 24h
survey
Sent to more than
7000 people (EIP-
AGRI flash news)
articles, newsletters, events
through COM channels and members of the board as
ambassadors

31. Thank you!
# HorizonEU #EUmissions #MissionSoil
© European Union, 2019. | Images source: © darkovujic, #82863476; © Konovalov Pavel, #109031193; 2018. Fotolia.com
http://ec.europa.eu/horizon-europe