EU launches public consultation on new agricultural research and innovation strategy

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a new EU strategy for agricultural research and innovation. Stakeholders are invited to contribute to the future direction of research and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas.

As part of its Vision for Agriculture and Food, presented in February 2025, the European Commission announced the development of a new strategic approach to support EU agriculture, forestry, and rural areas through research and innovation. The strategy aims to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, and fairness of European agri-food systems.

To prepare this strategic approach, the Commission has launched a public consultation to enable the co-creation of an EU-wide agricultural R&I strategy. The consultation targets relevant stakeholders, including researchers, innovators, farmers and foresters, companies, associations, and rural actors.

The consultation aims to:

• Identify priority R&I themes,
• Promote the uptake of new knowledge and innovations in practice,
• Improve the entire innovation journey from research to start-ups and scale-ups.

The consultation is open until 25 January 2026.

Complementary initiative: Strategic R&I agenda for Food Systems

In addition to the new agricultural R&I strategy, the Commission will develop a strategic R&I agenda for Food Systems, as announced in the European Life Science Strategy. Stakeholders will be consulted in Q1 2026.

Further information

• Access the consultation
• Commission website – Vision for Agriculture and Food

Summary 

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a new EU agricultural R&I strategy to support EU agriculture, forestry, and rural areas through research and innovation. The strategy aims to strengthen competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, and fairness. The consultation targets relevant stakeholders and is open until 25 January 2026. A consultation on the strategic R&I agenda for Food Systems will follow in Q1 2026.

Source: EU Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KoWi)

Dr. Thomas Ammerl
Head of Unit Environment, Energy & Bioeconomy
Phone: +49 89 9901888-120
Email: ammerl@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org