EU climate advisers call for action in the agri-food sector

According to the report, current progress in adaptation, emission reductions and carbon removals in agriculture is neither aligned with the EU’s 2040 and 2050 climate objectives, nor keeping pace with worsening climate risks. The EU agri‑food system underpins Europe’s food security, rural livelihoods and strategic autonomy. Yet it is increasingly exposed to more severe droughts, floods, heatwaves and disease outbreaks.

Climate-related agricultural losses already amount to tens of billions of euros annually, and are projected to increase significantly in the coming decades. Without faster progress within the agri-food system, achieving climate neutrality will require steeper emission cuts elsewhere or a much faster scale-up of carbon removals, increasing overall costs and climate-related risks for the European economy.

A systemic transition and stronger policy incentives

The Advisory Board concludes that marginal improvements through technologies and practices alone will not be sufficient. Climate-proofing the agri-food system requires a systemic transition that advances both adaptation and mitigation across the value chain, including production systems, land use and consumption patterns. Upcoming revisions of the EU budget, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the 2031–2040 climate framework present a critical opportunity to realign agricultural policy with climate objectives, including the increase of the sector’s climate resilience.

In this regard, the Advisory Board puts forward six recommendations:

1. Phasing out CAP payments that incentivise the most greenhouse-gas-intensive practices, while exploring alternative income-support mechanisms consistent with climate objectives.
2. Introducing a dedicated greenhouse gas pricing mechanism for the agri-food system, applying the “polluter pays” principle gradually and adaptively, while recycling revenues to support farmers and reward carbon removals.
3. Providing targeted transition support to help farmers overcome financial and knowledge barriers.
4. Strengthening tools that help them cope with unavoidable climate impacts.
5. Promoting healthy, climate-friendly diets and reducing food waste.
6. Ensuring adequate and timely public funding to finance the transition.

Ottmar Edenhofer, Chair of the Advisory Board and PIK Director, comments: “Achieving the EU’s 2040 and 2050 climate targets in a cost‑effective manner requires meaningful emission reductions across the entire economy. While agriculture has made progress, the scale and pace of reductions are not yet sufficient. The sector will need to step up action in the years ahead – to help achieve climate neutrality and to protect farmers’ livelihoods, support rural communities and secure Europe’s food supply as the climate continues to change.”