Agro World News: Stoyan Tchoukanov: Europe’s voice for regenerative agriculture in Rome

As the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) marks its 80th anniversary, the European Economic and social committee (EESC) uses the World Food Forum in Rome (10–17 October) to spotlight regenerative agriculture as the foundation of future food policies and sustainable farming systems worldwide.

In Rome, the historic epicenter of global food diplomacy, calls for a new agricultural paradigm are growing louder. The World Food Forum (WFF), taking place from 10 to 17 October at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), gathers a diverse community of farmers, scientists, investors, policymakers, and Indigenous leaders. Under this year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” the event coincides with the FAO’s 80th anniversary — a moment both celebratory and reflective for an organization born out of the hunger and reconstruction of 1945 and now confronted with renewed global challenges.

Among the key participants is the delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which is not only following the debates but also engaging in a series of high-level bilateral meetings during both the WFF and the 53rd Session of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The delegation’s mission is clear: to ensure that regenerative agriculture is placed at the heart of global food policy as a holistic strategy for restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and securing farmers’ livelihoods.

“Food policies must go beyond efficiency and yields,” said Stoyan Tchoukanov, President of the EESC’s NAT Section and designated expert. “Regenerative agriculture offers a comprehensive approach to rebuilding soil fertility, supporting biodiversity, and empowering farmers. It must be recognized as the cornerstone of sustainable food systems worldwide.”

As governments, academic institutions, and impact investors seek convergence on sustainable farming, the EESC’s position carries growing influence. Its bilateral talks with institutional partners from Africa, Latin America, and Asia aim to establish a coherent framework that allows regenerative practices to access funding streams on par with other “green” initiatives, through mechanisms of the FAO, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The WFF 2025 features a rich agenda of high-level dialogues, innovation labs, hackathons, cultural showcases, and the inauguration of the new Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (MuNe). On 16 October, World Food Day will be celebrated with events across 150 countries, promoting a global message that food policy must reconnect with the social and environmental dimensions of production.

Meanwhile, within the CFS plenary hall, member states and UN stakeholders are expected to adopt new policy recommendations on urban and peri-urban food systems, debate the latest expert report on food system resilience, and hold elections for the CFS chair and bureau. The 2024–2027 work programme emphasizes food security, land access, and climate adaptation as core priorities.

For the European Union, the EESC’s active presence in Rome carries strategic weight. It signals Europe’s ambition to reassert itself as a regulatory and intellectual leader in shaping global food policy not only through regulations and financial instruments, but also through ideas. One of these ideas, regenerative agriculture, is steadily evolving from scientific concept to policy narrative, gaining momentum in international negotiations.

As the FAO celebrates eight decades of service to humanity, the moment feels less like an anniversary and more like a crossroads of renewal. In the halls and corridors of Rome, where policy and science converge, the debate on regenerating ecosystems is emerging as a potential bridge between Europe and the United Nations  a rare moment when global governance, research, and farming communities share the same vision for the planet’s food future.

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