The European Commission presented an updated vision for the future of agriculture

The European Commission has published its vision for the future of the agricultural sector and the food industry. Experts note that this document offers a strategy for developing a competitive, sustainable, and attractive agri-food sector for current and future generations of farmers. In this regard, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has already emphasized that farmers are the foundation of the EU's food system. However, they face challenges from global competition and climate change, which is why the European Commission proposes a comprehensive strategy to make agriculture more attractive, sustainable, and modern.

It is known that Europe will focus on supporting young farmers and encouraging youth to choose agricultural professions. Plans are in place to expand financial support, develop innovative business models, and additional sources of income, particularly through carbon and nature credits. In 2025, a strategy for attracting new personnel to agriculture will be presented. Attention is also given to competitiveness and food security. Europe may focus on protecting the interests of European farmers in trade agreements. Special attention will be paid to harmonizing standards for imported products, particularly regarding the use of pesticides and animal welfare. Additionally, farmers will be rewarded for environmental practices. At the same time, the Commission will consider the risks when introducing new bans on pesticide use if no alternatives exist. Furthermore, the EU may update the Action Plan for the development of rural areas.

Amid all this, it became known that the EU has decided to block the import of certain food products made to various standards. Such actions are planned to protect their farmers. This echoes the trade policy of newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump. Currently, according to EU officials, next week the European Commission will agree to explore the possibility of imposing greater restrictions on imports, which may lead to increased tension in relations with trade partners. The first targets may be American crops, such as soybeans, which are grown using pesticides that EU farmers are prohibited from using.

Speaking of the policy of the new U.S. leadership, it should be noted that the WIG-Ukraine index of Ukrainian stocks on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), which had been rapidly rising in recent days on optimism regarding peace negotiations, plummeted by 8.07% on the morning of February 19. This occurred amid news of Donald Trump's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Currently, the index value has fallen below pre-war levels again. Meanwhile, from February 3 to 9, shares of leading Ukrainian agro-holdings showed significant growth on the Warsaw and London stock exchanges. Analysts indicate that the positive dynamics of the stocks may be linked to improved export conditions for Ukrainian agricultural products, stability in domestic production, and optimistic forecasts regarding future harvests. Moreover, overall trends of renewed investor interest in the agricultural sector amid global economic uncertainty may have influenced the market.