Italy-UK Partnership

PARTNERSHIP | Autumn 2020 16 The European “Farm to Fork” and “Biodiversity” strategies How the EU green deal tackles climate change T he European Green Deal is a roadmap to make Europe and its economy sustainable, which is possible with a shift towards circular economy and the restoration of biodiversity, along with a pollution cut. By 2050, the European Union should be climate neutral. In order to reach these goals, many sectors must be involved, such as construction (for energy-efficient buildings), transport (clean means of transport) and the technological one (to develop green ways to support the plan). Part of the Green Deal is the “Farm to Fork” strategy, aimed at making food systems and processes fair, healthy and eco-friendly. As of now the food industry is accountable for one-third of GHG emissions, consumes many natural resources and has various health impacts. Making the sector sustainable by introducing technological improvements will allow us to live in a healthier and less- damaged planet, whilst ensuring the quality of the products on the table. Furthermore, sustainability will allow the food sector to become more resilient and able to overcome possible future crises, such as the current pandemic. The Brussel’s plan contains 27 key actions that, by 2030, should reduce food waste, protect animals, use 50% less pesticides and antibiotics in farming, 20% less fertilisers, and improve organic farming by 25%. “Biodiversity” is the second and parallel strategy, focused on making 30% of European land and sea a protected area, giving the conservation status to 30% of protected habitats. The loss of biodiversity (such as wild species that are at risk of extinction) is strongly connected to the climate crisis. Restoring natural habitat and creating green spaces in the cities is essential to get to the climate mitigation change. The plan also includes 3m trees to be planted by 2030, an increase of organic farming and the restoration of 25,000km of rivers. The construction, agriculture and food sectors have been identified as key areas to work on. HOWTECHNOLOGY COMES IN SUPPORT TO SUSTAINABILITY New technologies will help respond and transform the way food is produced and consumed. Their use can be implemented to understand the links between climate change and food safety, to improve the traceability of the products, or to predict climate-related risks. A few examples: Satellites will be used to track and store information on animals (their behaviour, status, position). Plants will be mapped to monitor their growth and study external influences. Robotic applications will be in charge of pest management, milking or even picking fruits. QR-codes on the products’ labels will give us information about each step of the production phase until the positioning on the shelves. Artificial intelligence and blockchain are destined to become a bigger part of our lives, and the future of agriculture is set to become a technological area of innovation. ·