U.S.-EU announce ag collaboration

Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and European Union Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski announced the creation of a transatlantic collaboration platform on agriculture designed to take on the global challenges of sustainability and climate change.

In a joint statement, Wojciechowski and Vilsack said, “International collaboration to confront climate change and foster sustainability is paramount to mitigating the harsh and difficult future that awaits us as a global society. Climate change is already affecting the livelihoods of our farmers in deep and profound ways, from extreme weather volatility, to severe drought, to flooding, to wildfires and other catastrophic events that threaten our towns, cities and communities. We must rise to the challenge.”

The joint statement announced that the EU-U.S. collaboration will include a new platform for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EU Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development to exchange knowledge and information and to promote mutual understanding and trust, as the two government groups work together to address global challenges and achieve common goals.

“We believe that, science and innovation will bring about a more sustainable agriculture. We must work together to devise systems and solutions that are good for agricultural producers, good for consumers, good for businesses, good for our communities, and good for our planet. This includes fair and open markets at the local, regional, and international levels that bolster food security and sustainable food systems.”