Proposal for a EC Recommendation on a Joint Programming initiative on "Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change"

A new coordinated approach would be implemented through close cooperation between national research programmes. This should help identifying and responding more effectively to common challenges in the area of Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change.

Member States would engage in the definition, development and implementation of a common Strategic Research Agenda to address the combined challenges of food security against the
continuous threat represented by various scenarios of climate change, global population, and food and non-food demand.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT AND HOW?
• Stakeholders from participating countries (decision-makers, owners, managers, planners etc.) and mostly citizens by developing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in agriculture to meet the food security challenge.
• More efficient sharing and harmonised implementation of best practices.
• More effective use of Europe's limited public research funds.

WHY DOES ACTION HAVE TO BE TAKEN BY THE EU?
• Because this action tackles a European-wide issue that cannot be successfully resolved by individual countries. Joint Programming makes possible for several European countries to elaborate and implement a common research agenda, thus preventing fragmentation and duplication of efforts.
• Because it takes advantage of the critical mass provided by a large concerted action at EU level

WHEN IS THE PROPOSAL LIKELY TO COME INTO EFFECT?
• There is no pre-definite moment of entry into effect, as the process of coordinating research agendas is gradual and decided by the Member States.

• However, the set up of a management structure by the participating countries is expected by the end of 2010. Several Member States have already started working jointly towards a common research agenda and will continue to do so during the time necessary to adopt this Recommendation.