French farmers drive their tractors on a highway as they protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Longvilliers, near Paris, France, January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

EU recommends ambitious 2040 climate target, goes light on farming

In face of farmer protests, EU weakens some recommendations related to agriculture

The European Commission recommended on Tuesday that the EU slash net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, an ambitious target that will test political appetite for the region's fight against climate change ahead of EU elections.

Protesters lead a cow on a street in downtown Milan as people protest against European agricultural policies, next to the Regional Council of Lombardy in Milan, Italy February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Italy’s farmers head to Rome in tractor convoy protest

Protests in France, Germany eased; farmers blocked Dutch-Belgian border

Italian farmers protesting about red tape and cheap imports from outside the EU headed towards Rome in convoys of tractors on Monday, while their colleagues in the north led a cow through the streets of Milan.



A hay bale is moved by a tractor over a pile to block a road, as French farmers protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, near Castelnaudary, in the south of France, January 23, 2024. The text on the hay bales reads: “JA” referring to “Jeunes Agriculteurs” (Young Farmers) and “We just want to feed, not die”. Photo: Reuters/Nacho Doce

One dead, two injured as French farmer protests spread

Farmers union says road blocks won't be lifted until government action on economic, regulatory concerns

Protesting farmers blocked roads across France on Tuesday and there was one fatal accident, as their unions urged the government to ease its drive for lower consumer prices and reduce environmental regulations.

Farmers protesting in Toulouse, France, on January 16, 2024, with tractors bearing placards that read ‘Macron still an effort, soon all farmers will be dead’. Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto via Reuters

France could face nationwide farmer protests as anger mounts

Farmers cite fuel taxes, excessive restrictions and red tape among grievances

France's largest farm union FNSEA is considering nationwide protests in the coming weeks, a spokesperson said on Friday, potentially expanding action by farmers in the southwest who have blocked a highway and dumped manure on public buildings.

A customer pushes a shopping cart past organic products at the Bio fruits and vegetables section in a supermarket in Gattierese, France.

EU organic output out of step with consumption

European farmers say they are encouraged to produce organically amid waning consumer interest

Organic consumption is falling in Europe even as governments mandate more production using that farming system. The European Commission is not paying attention to what people want, said Lode Ceyssens, president of the Belgian Farmers Union in Flanders. Why it matters: The EU’s Farm to Fork strategy emphasizes sustainable agriculture production, and organic production is […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

EU countries fail to agree on extending glyphosate approval

Current approval expires Dec. 15

Brussels | Reuters — European Union governments failed on Friday to give a decisive opinion on a proposal to extend by 10 years EU approval for the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup herbicide. A “qualified majority” of 15 countries representing at least 65 per cent of the bloc’s population had been […] Read more

Christoph Siebert

German farmers use innovation to help meet sustainability targets

The European Union has set some tough targets in its Farm to Fork strategy

Sustainable production is the latest focus in agriculture as countries around the world look for ways to deal with climate change. The European Union’s Farm to Fork strategy, for example, spells out ambitious goals for sustainable food production. Among its targets by 2030 are reducing chemical pesticide and antimicrobial use by 50 per cent and […] Read more