From AI and robotics to drought-ready crops and alternative proteins, Europe’s Agri-Food plan could change how innovation moves from labs to the real world.

What if the next major development in European agriculture does not occur on a farm, but in a laboratory? This is precisely what Europe’s Agri-Food plan has been trying to do recently. The European Commission has recently adopted a new strategic framework that seeks to transform innovations and research into practical solutions within the Agri-Food sector.

This strategy, agreed on September 8, combines both the AgRI 2040 framework, which deals with agriculture, forestry, and rural development, and the Food 2040 framework, which is concerned with food systems, fisheries, and aquaculture. Both are intended to inform EU-sponsored research and innovation within Horizon Europe from 2028 to 2034 and parts of the European Competitiveness Fund. This would result in more effective crops which are capable of adapting to dry conditions and harsh temperatures, as well as faster detection of plant diseases and better crop protection.

Christophe Hansen, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, said, “Our task is to make sure these ideas do not stay in the laboratory, but are tested, adapted to local conditions and turned into practical solutions that can be used and scaled up.”

What Could AgRI 2040 and Food 2040 Change?

AgRI 2040 will cover areas including soil and water, crop and livestock systems, forestry, rural development, stronger agricultural value chains, and technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

Food 2040 has a broader view on the food supply chain. Its main concerns include better diets and sustainability, efficient use of resources, reduction of pollution, consumer power, business models, and aquatic food systems.

The strategy also puts attention on startups, scaleups and SMEs, giving them a clearer role in moving promising ideas from research toward commercial use.

Could This Change What Farmers Actually Use?

That is the question that the next phase will start addressing. As Business Fortune observes the Commission intends to include all farmers, foresters, business people, scientists, and other parties in prioritizing the agenda and finding the answers.

The first such opportunity is likely to arise at the EU AgRI 2040 Conference, which is scheduled for Brussels on September 24 and 25. It will be an occasion for all relevant investors in agriculture, research, and innovation to come together.

It is not going to be about how flashy the research sounds. It will be more about an ability to turn an interesting experiment into an actionable idea that could be used by a farmer, by a company or by a rural community. And if Europe succeeds, then the next Agri-Food revolution could be quite different.

FAQs

What is the EU AgRI 2040 strategy?

AgRI 2040 is a framework for future research and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas.

What is Food 2040?

Food 2040 focuses on wider food systems, including sustainable diets, resource efficiency, consumer issues, business models, fisheries and aquaculture.

How will farmers be involved?

Farmers and other users are expected to help identify practical needs, test solutions and contribute to the development of research priorities.

Will artificial intelligence be part of the strategy?

Yes. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and robotics are among the areas identified under AgRI 2040.

When will the next major AgRI 2040 discussion take place?

The EU AgRI 2040 Conference is scheduled for September 24–25, 2026, in Brussels.