When the European Commission launched the Green Deal in 2019, it posed a fundamental question: How can Europe grow without exhausting its natural foundations?
Since then, every sector — energy, transport, industry, and agriculture — has been called to reduce emissions, restore ecosystems, and rethink its production models.
For agriculture, and especially for wheat, this transformation is not only technical, but deeply cultural.
Producing sustainably is no longer optional — it is the condition for remaining competitive in both European and global markets.
The Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy
The European Green Deal is an overarching policy framework designed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Within it, two strategies directly affect cereal systems:
- Farm to Fork Strategy – aims to make Europe’s food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
- Reduce chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030;
- Reduce fertilizer use by 20%;
- Achieve 25% of agricultural land under organic farming.
- EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – commits to protecting 30% of land and sea areas across Europe and promoting ecological corridors and local varieties.
Together, these initiatives redefine European agriculture: fewer inputs, greater diversification, and increased environmental accountability.
Impact on Wheat: New Rules, New Goals
Wheat remains a strategic crop for Europe, representing about 46% of total cereal production (Eurostat, 2024).
Under the Green Deal, cereal farmers face three main operational shifts:
- Reduced Chemical Inputs
Fertilizers and pesticides will be more tightly regulated and traceable.
The EU proposes stricter limits on nitrogen- and phosphate-based inputs and supports the use of biostimulants and precision farming technologies. - Measuring Emissions and Soil Carbon
Farmers will progressively take part in carbon monitoring systems (the Carbon Farming Data Hub), earning payments for sequestering carbon and cutting emissions. - Diversification and Ecological Rotations
Mandatory crop rotations and increased use of legumes are being encouraged to restore soil fertility and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
In essence, the Green Deal is driving a technological and ecological revolution in European cereal farming — one rooted in data, biodiversity, and resilience.
Italy Between Leadership and Structural Challenges
Italy, with about 1.8 million hectares of wheat (durum and soft combined), has integrated the Green Deal’s principles into its CAP Strategic Plan (2023–2027) and Regional Rural Development Programs (PSR).
Strengths:
- Robust public research networks (CREA, ENEA, universities);
- Pilot projects on conservation agriculture and bioeconomy;
- Growing attention to short supply chains and local-certified products.
Weaknesses:
- High average farmer age (over 57 years);
- Delays in farm digitalization;
- Difficult access to EU funds for small and medium enterprises.
As the Joint Research Centre (JRC, 2024) reports, Italy is one of the most proactive EU countries in adopting sustainable practices, but its fragmented agricultural structure remains a major obstacle to fully implementing the Green Deal.
Innovation and the “Green Conditionality”
Since 2024, access to direct CAP payments has been tied to stricter environmental conditionality rules (Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions – GAEC).
The most relevant for cereals include:
- Maintaining soil cover during sensitive periods;
- Mandatory crop rotation;
- Protecting wetlands and natural habitats.
To meet these requirements, more farms are adopting precision agriculture tools (GPS systems, sensors, satellite mapping) and conservation tillage practices.
Those who integrate innovation and sustainability most effectively will also be best positioned to benefit from new funding opportunities and green markets.
Beyond Obligation: Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage
The Green Deal, if embraced strategically, is not just a constraint — it’s a competitive advantage.
For cereal producers, sustainability opens the door to:
- Premium markets demanding environmental traceability (large retailers and export channels);
- ESG-linked financing with lower credit risks;
- Carbon farming and green credit projects under EU certification schemes.
As the FAO (2024) emphasizes, agriculture will play a central role in climate action — not as a problem, but as part of the solution.
Wheat, a cornerstone of European food security, is becoming equally central to Europe’s ecological transition.
Towards a New Pact Between Agriculture and the Environment
The Green Deal does not ask farmers to produce less — it asks them to produce better.
And achieving this will require stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, policymakers, and consumers.
EcoWheataly will continue to follow this transition, tracking how European green policies translate into real changes in the fields:
fewer emissions, greater biodiversity, and more environmental value per hectare of wheat.
The green transition has already begun — and this time, it starts from the soil.
Sources:
- European Commission (2023). European Green Deal – Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.
- FAO (2024). Agriculture and Climate Change Nexus Report.
- Joint Research Centre (2024). Monitoring the Green Transition in EU Cereal Systems.
- CREA (2024). Ecological Transition and Sustainability in the Italian Cereal Sector.
- Eurostat (2024). Wheat Production Data and Sustainability Indicators.