LIFE NextFUMIGREEN aligns with the European Commission’s initiative promoting sustainable agri-food products within and outside the EU by 2024

• The European Commission will allocate €186 million to the promotion of sustainable agri-food products inside and outside the EU by 2024.
• The European LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project supports this initiative by encouraging the use of natural fumigants in agricultural products.

Brussels, 21 November 2023. Today, Tuesday 21 November, from the European project LIFE NextFUMIGREEN, we align with the European Commission’s initiative to promote sustainable agri-food products inside and outside the EU in 2024. To this end, 185.9 million euros will be earmarked in 2024 to finance activities to promote sustainable and high quality EU agri-food products within and beyond EU borders.

The promotion policy work programme for 2024 adopted by the Commission aims to develop new market opportunities, both for European farmers and the EU food industry in general, and to help them secure their existing business. In addition to increasing sustainable production and consumption of agricultural products, the promotion policy also supports the sustainable recovery of the EU agri-food sector in a difficult economic context. “Our promotion campaigns open up new opportunities for our agri-food sector, reinforcing its essential contribution to the EU economy, especially in rural areas and remote regions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.

Selected promotion campaigns in 2024 are expected to feature products from sustainable agricultural practices, which contribute to reducing reliance on pesticides and antimicrobials, minimising fertilisation and water pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing organic farming and improving animal welfare. A total of €62 million will be earmarked specifically for these sustainably produced agri-food products, including €42 million for organic products. In addition, one of the expected results is to increase the recognition of the EU organic logo by European consumers and the consumption of organic products, in line with the EU action plan for organic production.

In line with this initiative, natural fumigants such as those promoted by LIFE NextFUMIGREEN are a key alternative to chemical pesticides and a valuable tool in protecting food quality by controlling pests and pathogens, reducing toxic residues and promoting more sustainable agricultural practices. Their use helps to ensure that food reaches our hands in the highest possible quality.

About LIFE NextFUMIGREEN

The European project LIFE NextFUMIGREEN actively promotes food safety by developing natural fumigants from plant extracts to control pests in intensive horticultural crops under glass. With the leadership of Fumihogar and with the collaboration of the Foundation for Agricultural Auxiliary Technologies, the Finnova Foundation, B&B Asesores Auditores Ambientales, Comercial Quimica Masso and BrioAgro Tech, the project has a total budget of 2,758,921.01 €, 60% subsidised by the LIFE Programme.