On September 19, 2024, the FACCE-JPI hosted a workshop in Brussels addressing the pressing issue of food system resilience in Europe amid climate change and global disruptions. The event brought together experts from academia, government, and industry to discuss strategies for building a resilient, sustainable, and socially just food system.

Europe, as the fastest-warming continent, faces growing climate shocks such as droughts and extreme heat, alongside challenges from geopolitical tensions and pandemics. The key conclusions and needs for research and policy were:

Food System Climate Shocks: Europe’s agri-food system is highly vulnerable to climate-related risks like droughts, extreme temperatures, and supply chain disruptions. The workshop emphasized the need for systematic stress-testing to identify weaknesses and prepare crisis-response plans at EU and global levels.

Water Management and Soil Resilience: Retaining water and managing soil health were highlighted as critical to mitigating shocks and enhancing resilience. The NEXUS approach, integrating water, carbon, energy, and nutrient cycles, and economic models like "Carbon and Water Banks" were proposed to promote regenerative agriculture and address disruptions in water cycles.

Food Democracy: Empowering local food councils and citizen assemblies can improve governance and foster “food democracy.” Funding and research into multi-actor governance are needed to enhance citizen participation in shaping sustainable food systems.

Social Justice: Resilient food systems must address inequalities, ensuring vulnerable populations are not left behind. Subsidy reforms and targeted social safety nets are critical to mitigating the disproportionate impacts of climate shocks.

Policy Coherence: A long-term, unified vision is needed to align EU agricultural, environmental, and climate policies. Proposals included a food reserve system to stabilize supply chains and greater policy alignment with climate adaptation strategies.

Knowledge and Education: Investment in food systems education and farm advisory services, particularly in agroecology, is essential. Metrics should measure the impact of knowledge transfer from research to practice.

Research Priorities:

oWater and Soil Resilience: Develop tools and metrics to monitor and improve the water retention capacity of soils at both the farm and landscape levels. Research should also focus on the co-benefits of land-based interventions like soil carbon sequestration and water management in climate adaptation.
oFood Systems and Climate Modelling: Existing models are inadequate for predicting complex climate interactions, such as simultaneous droughts and floods. There is a need for dynamic modelling tools that incorporate ecosystem services, water cycles, and extreme weather events.
oAgroecology: Further research is required to support the transition to agroecological practices, especially in underfunded regions of Europe. Studies should focus on the socio-economic barriers to adoption, including farm debt and access to knowledge and technology.
oFood System Redundancy: Investigate strategies to enhance the redundancy of food systems, focusing on diversified supply chains, alternative proteins, and local production. This research should also explore policy tools for reducing dependencies on global markets and preventing speculation in food markets during crises.
oFood Democracy: More case studies are needed on citizen-led initiatives in food systems, particularly in how local food councils can influence national and EU-level policies. Research should also explore how educational programs can empower citizens to make sustainable food choices and advocate for systemic changes.

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