UCAB and Farm Europe Discuss the Vision for the Future Agri-Food System of an Enlarged EU

On 15 July, the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) and Farm Europe held their second joint online workshop, titled “Towards a Competitive, Climate-Resilient and Technological Agri-Food System for an Enlarged EU.”

The workshop continued the joint work of UCAB and Farm Europe on developing a roadmap for the integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the European Union. Participants discussed Ukraine’s preparation for EU membership and a shared vision for the agri-food system of an enlarged European Union.

During the meeting, Oleksandra Avramenko, Chair of UCAB’s European Integration Committee, presented a discussion paper outlining a vision for the future EU agri-food system. The paper argues that the discussion should focus not only on the mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but also on a long-term vision for the future of European agriculture. It is built around four key principles: diversity of production models, economic viability of farmers, digitalisation and data-driven agriculture, and climate adaptation.

“We believe that Ukraine’s accession to the EU should be viewed not as a challenge for the European agricultural sector, but as an opportunity to jointly shape the future of European agricultural policy. Ukrainian farmers have gained extensive experience operating in a highly competitive environment with limited public support while rapidly adopting digital technologies. This practical experience can make an important contribution to building a modern, competitive and resilient Common Agricultural Policy,” UCAB emphasized.

Representatives of Farm Europe supported the need to develop a shared long-term vision for the future of the EU agricultural sector. They noted that, following the conclusion of the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Union is reassessing its approach to agricultural policy but still lacks a comprehensive vision for its future. At the same time, the workshop highlighted a shared concern among both Ukrainian and European farmers that the current CAP reform proposals do not provide sufficient instruments to support investments in the sector’s economic productivity. Participants agreed that further work should focus on developing concrete policy recommendations, drawing on the experience and best practices of the Ukrainian agricultural sector.

Following the workshop, the parties agreed to continue refining the discussion paper, incorporating feedback from Farm Europe experts and representatives of the Ukrainian agribusiness community. The resulting recommendations will serve as the basis for joint policy recommendations to the European Commission and EU Member States on the future reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the European integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector.