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On 02.02.2023  the Commission adopted new rules which will, once applicable, lower the Maximum Residues Levels (MRLs) of two pesticides in food. Assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have shown that the two chemicals, belonging to the group of neonicotinoid pesticides, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, pose a high risk to bees and contribute to the global decline of pollinators. For this reason, their outdoor use has already been banned in the EU in 2018.

Are you searching for the population density, the average distance to healthcare facilities or the broadband speed in any rural area, municipality, or region in the European Union? It is now possible thanks to the newly launched rural observatory.

On 24th January, the Commission presented 'A New Deal for Pollinators' to tackle the alarming decline in wild pollinating insects in Europe, revising the 2018 EU Pollinators Initiative.

The Commission has authorized the marketing of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as novel food in the EU. It is the third insect which has been successfully approved for consumption and follows previous authorisations given last July for the dried yellow mealworm, and in November for the migratory locust, reported eureporter.co. The house cricket will be available in its entirety, either frozen or dried, and powder.

Based on the urban–rural typology, predominantly rural regions accounted for almost half (45%) of the EU’s area in 2021. However, according to population data on 1 January 2021, only 21% of the EU population lived in rural regions. Over the period 2015-2020, the population of predominantly rural regions fell, on average, 0.1% each year, while almost no change was recorded in the population of intermediate regions. On the other hand, the population of predominantly urban regions rose, on average, 0.4% each year.

The share of EU agricultural land under organic farming increased by more than 50% over the period 2012-2020, with an annual increase of 5.7%. In 2020, 9.1% of the EU’s agricultural area was farmed organically, reported the European Commission. On average, though with substantial variation across Member States, organic farms are bigger than conventional farms and run by younger farm managers.

The European Commission launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to comment on its draft proposal for Guidelines on how to design sustainability agreements in the field of agriculture (‘Guidelines') using the novel exclusion from EU competition rules introduced during the recent reform of the common agricultural policy (‘CAP').

The European Commission will allocate €185.9 million in 2023 to fund promotion activities for sustainable and high quality EU agri-food products in the EU and worldwide. The 2023 promotion policy work programme adopted today by the Commission contributes to the realisation of the political priorities of the European Commission for 2019-2024, in particular the Farm to Fork strategy.

According to the European Commission, precision farming can help increase crop yields and animal performance, reduce costs, and optimise the use of inputs. This article follows the EURACTIV-organised policy debate “Precision Agriculture – What do EU farmers want?” supported by GIGAEurope.

Digital technologies can help farming tackle the ‘double imperative’ of greening the sector while ensuring food security, according to a European Commission official. But high investment costs and poor connectivity in rural areas might stand in the way.

Producer organisations (POs) play a crucial role in sustaining and fostering growth in the fruit and vegetables sector in the European Union. This is done, among other things, through channelling the EU financial support for the sector. This is one of the conclusions of the synthesis study of national strategies for sustainable operational programmes in the fruit and vegetables sector for the period 2013-18, published today by the European Commission.