Five European Technology Platforms (ETPs), alongside 9 signatories from the agri-food sector, call on the European Parliament and the Council to recognise agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems as strategic sectors within the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and the 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (Horizon Europe).
At a time of increasing geopolitical instability, climate pressure, and economic uncertainty, the European Union must reinforce the foundations of its long-term competitiveness and resilience. Agriculture, bioeconomy and food systems play a central role in these efforts. They ensure food security, support rural economies, contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and are essential to securing and increasing sustainable biomass supply and underpin key manufacturing value chains across Europe.
A forward-looking European competitiveness strategy cannot overlook the agri-food sector. Sustainable and innovative agricultural and aquatic food systems drive productivity, reduce strategic dependencies, and strengthen the EU鈥檚 capacity to respond to external shocks. Investment in research and innovation in this sector is therefore not only a matter of sustainability, but of economic resilience and global leadership.
Despite its strategic importance, agriculture, aquaculture and food systems risk being underrepresented in emerging competitiveness instruments. We therefore urge the Members of the European Parliament and Member States to:
- Explicitly include agriculture, bioeconomy and food in the title of Policy Window 2 of the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe, to reflect their strategic relevance and ensure appropriate prioritisation alongside other key sectors
- Ensure sufficient and dedicated funding for agri-food research and innovation under ECF and Horizon Europe, commensurate with the sector鈥檚 contribution to competitiveness, resilience, sustainability, and food security
- Guarantee fair and balanced representation of all agri-food stakeholders in priority-setting and programming procedures, including researchers, farmers, industry, and civil society, to ensure that funding priorities are relevant, inclusive, and responsive to real-world needs.
A coherent and ambitious policy framework that fully integrates agriculture, aquaculture and food systems into the EU鈥檚 competitiveness agenda will be essential to safeguard Europe鈥檚 strategic autonomy, economic vitality, and societal well-being, while accelerating innovation across the agri-food value chain.