The Farm to Fork Directive and the 2030 UN Agenda: An Analytical Perspective on EU Food Policy Effectiveness

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a comprehensive global framework, encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted unanimously by all 193 United Nations member states through Resolution 70/1 on September 15, 2015, it aims to address pressing global challenges. Among these, SDG 2 is particularly pivotal, targeting the eradication of hunger, universal access to safe and nutritious food, the elimination of malnutrition, and a substantial increase in agricultural productivity. As a unified political and economic entity, the European Union (EU) has pledged to align its policies with these objectives. This study employs a qualitative methodology to examine EU agricultural policies in relation to SDG 2, assessing their effectiveness in advancing its targets. A key focus is the Farm to Fork (F2F) Directive, which governs agricultural practices across the 27 EU member states. Through a systematic review of recent press articles, televised debates, and secondary accounts of interviews with EU policymakers and representatives of farmers’ unions, this research evaluates the prospective trajectory of EU agri-food production and its capacity to support global efforts to combat malnutrition. The findings suggest that the EU agricultural sector may undergo significant contraction, with many small and medium-sized enterprises facing closure and a potential decline in food quality. Consequently, the study concludes that current EU policies are unlikely to increase agricultural productivity sufficiently, thereby compromising the EU’s ability to achieve the third objective of SDG 2. The study further highlights broader implications for food security, socio-economic stability, and policy coherence within the EU. The findings underscore the need for pragmatic, well-supported policies that balance environmental objectives with the sustainability and resilience of the EU’s agricultural sector.