Unilever, Danone, Oatly, Bel Group and McCain have issued a public call for the European unio to prioritise sustainability within its agricultural policies, urging significant reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other measures.

In a joint statement, the companies highlighted the urgent need to address the “triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” which threatens long-term food security and the livelihoods of farmers.

“The EU must actively change the way we produce and consume food to ensure that nature, consumers, and the farming and food industries can thrive,” the statement asserted.

Key proposals include increasing environmental payments under the CAP, establishing mandatory sustainability criteria for public procurement, and creating dedicated funds to support nature restoration and regenerative farming. These measures, the companies argue, are vital to help farmers transition to sustainable practices and secure stable, predictable incomes.

“A system of targeted and result-oriented environmental payments would provide farmers with stable and predictable income,” the companies stated. “Such environmental payments should go beyond what is currently required by EU legislation and aim at the highest environmental and climate ambitions.”

Furthermore, the food giants have also advocated for benchmarking sustainability standards through common definitions and criteria for on-farm practices. According to the group, such measures would streamline investments in greener farming solutions and create more transparent systems for all stakeholders, including food manufacturers and retailers.

 “The EU has the opportunity to help the farming and food industry operating in Europe achieve a fairer, more resilient and healthy food supply chain, and show global leadership by putting sustainability at the heart of its agriculture and food policies,” the statement concluded.

“Business as usual is not an option”

The new European Commissioner is expected to present a vision for the future of EU agriculture and food within the first 100 days of his mandate.

Last November, during his hearing at the European Parliament, he confirmed that he would build on the agreements from the Strategic Dialogue for the Future of EU Agriculture, which would include significant changes to CAP direct payments.

The companies argue that aligning agricultural policies with sustainability goals would not only support farmers but also bolster the food industry’s resilience and global competitiveness.

They see the upcoming vision as a critical opportunity for the EU to demonstrate leadership by embedding sustainability in its food and agriculture systems, asserting that “business as usual is not an option.”