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Farm to Fork Strategy (debate)
The resolution on the Farm to Fork Strategy contains a number of provisions that will adversely affect the functioning of the agri-food sector, since, firstly, there is no reliable assessment of the impact of this document on the sector. Such an assessment should have been prepared before the announcement of the Communication. Parliament’s resolution does not pay sufficient attention to this negligence on the part of the Commission. Reliable assessment of the impact of an initiative with such significant economic and environmental impacts is a necessity. Secondly, I believe that the targets set by the strategy for reducing the use of pesticides (by 50% by 2030) are too ambitious and pose a serious risk to producers of agricultural and horticultural raw materials, the consequences of which will also affect consumers. Moreover, the JRC analysis shows that the achievement of the objectives of this strategy will lead to a decrease in the volume of agricultural production. In addition, agricultural production can be exported outside the EU due to our strict environmental requirements, and the resolution does not address the need to ensure that non-EU food suppliers are ready for similar changes in production standards. Without such adjustments or appropriate adjustments to EU trade policy, EU products will be partly replaced by imports and global environmental effects will be minimal or even negative (carbon leakage effect). I cannot support this resolution because it will weaken the position of European farmers.