With a keen sense of seasonality and ingredient availability, chefs are well aware of the impact of climate change on food security. The EU’s robust approach to sustainable food production and its quality programs designed to protect the rural economy can provide the hospitality industry with high-quality ingredients that meet its sustainability criteria.

While many chefs invariably champion produce grown on their home shores, for the majority of restaurants the UK produces nothing that matches the food needed to meet their needs. For example, to replace the equivalent of imported beef products, the UK cattle herd would have to be doubled.¹.

When it comes to operating more sustainably, there are initiatives and resources to help leaders around the world achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).². However, without the necessary regulations, much of these changes remain voluntary.

A commitment to ambitious sustainable development goals

The European Union (EU) has committed to becoming the first carbon neutral continent by 2050. Its strategy to achieve this includes converting agricultural land to organic farming, reducing fertilizers, pesticides, microbials and antibiotics, reducing methane emissions and improving biodiversity.

Behind this strategy is a significant commitment to making the systematic changes needed to benefit the entire food system. To receive full Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments, farmers must meet a reinforced set of requirements and standards on environment, climate, health, animal welfare and farming conditions. work.³. Almost 90% of cultivated land in the EU is subject to this condition, which is crucial for the adoption of sustainable agricultural methods. The plans allocate 32% of the total CAP budget to voluntary actions that advance environmental, climate and animal welfare objectives. The flexibility granted to Member States in the design of these tools has allowed them to target specific needs in their national or regional context.

Simon Atkins, food industry professional and advisor to the More Than Only Food & Drink campaign, recently presented the EU’s sustainability strategy at the The catererSustainable Development Summit. Simon spoke about the growth of regenerative farming methods that reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, using cover and companion crops, thereby promoting a more sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

According to Simon, “Innovation also plays a key role in the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices. From advanced agricultural techniques to cleaner energy solutions, new technologies are advancing sustainability. This includes an increasing focus on organic farming and the promotion of Geographical Indications (GIs) which act as catalysts for long-term sustainability by ensuring the continued use of traditional know-how in production, processing and marketing.

The role of the EU protected designation of origin and protected geographical indication systems

The history of European foods and drinks of protected origin dates back to the 19th century, when Champagne wines were protected under European law. The Protected Designation of Origin and Protected Geographical Indication systems, designated by red and yellow and blue and yellow symbols, were created in 1992.⁴. These trademarks aim to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional production techniques.

In terms of European agriculture, the AOP and IGP labels encourage sustainable agricultural methods and protect the rural economy. This connection with local climate and environmental circumstances allows items to be produced in the most appropriate setting, resulting in more efficient growing procedures that use fewer external inputs such as water, electricity and fertilizers.

These geographical indications encourage producers to use environmentally friendly practices while preserving traditional production techniques perfected over centuries to make the most of their regions’ natural resources and terroir. The PDO and IGP labels serve to maintain employment and economic activity in rural areas by supporting local farmers and their traditional methods of food production, thereby contributing to long-term sustainability in every sense of the word.

EU organic

EU Organic is a key program in the EU’s drive to become more sustainable. To be labeled EU organic, the farmer must use only organic feed for their farm animals, an absolute ban on GMOs and strict limitations on the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics. A product can only carry this label if its ingredients come from at least 95% organic farming and if the remaining 5% meet strict additional conditions.

AOPs, drivers of change throughout the supply chain

French Comté AOP and Italian Grana Padano AOP cheeses were chosen for the LIFE Tough Get Going (TTTG) project due to their high sales volume and centuries-old production practices. The project was created in 2017 to study cheese manufacturing in France and Italy, identify solutions to improve supply chain efficiency, and assess and reduce the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of each cheese .

LIFE TTGG brought together universities, start-ups, manufacturing companies, national institutions and research organizations to improve the production efficiency of the two cheeses, transfer the results to Europe, reduce the environmental impact and achieve more sustainable manufacturing and consumption.

Software was used to create a life cycle inventory (LCI) database that streamlines PEF calculations and an environmental decision support system (EDSS). The EDSS is accessible to manufacturers of hard and semi-hard European PDO cheeses made from cow’s milk to enable them to calculate the DEP of their product and assess their own environmental performance.⁵.

Quality programs that protect long-standing sustainable practices

Europe is already a leader in the production of high-quality, safe, authentic and sustainable food. With PDO, PGI and EU organic assurance, chefs and caterers can be sure that EU producers are working towards the same sustainability goals as them.

For more information on the EU’s More Than Food and Drink campaign, visit: enjoy-europe.campaign.europa.eu/united-kingdom/en

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