Navigating Polarised Narratives: Understanding Regional Food Systems in the EU

As narratives on agriculture and food systems become increasingly polarised, the discussions that took place on the 9th of October at the 2024 edition of European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) organised by the Committee of the Regions, felt incredibly timely. There, discussions highlighting both the challenges and the need for inclusive solutions took place, enriched by a variety of perspectives. The event provided a platform for regional leaders and experts on the topic to explore how narrative divergences can be mitigated at the regional level, and bridges for collaboration could be created, in the face of common global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical tensions.

The session started with a warm introduction from Maria Teresa Buco, Public Affairs Manager at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and a keynote video address from Beáta Olga Felkai, Deputy Secretary of State at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. In her intervention, she stressed the importance that the current Hungarian presidency was placing on the health of food systems, and thanked the session’s participants for their work on the subject.

The next speaker, Piotr Całbecki, President of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional Assembly, highlighted to the urgent need to tackle the worsening polarisation prevalent in both agricultural and environmental policies, citing the recent farmers’ protests across Europe as an example of such divisions. He pointed to farmers’ frustrations stemming from low incomes, perceived bureaucratic ‘red tape’, and heightened competition on exports. He highlighted that those fears were partially attributed to the Common Agricultural Policy and the European Green Deal.

To this end, Mr Całbecki noted, as farmers face mounting pressure from environmental obligations, they need to be supported and incentivised in their transition to more sustainable farming. “This cannot be done without and against farmers,” he stressed, advocating for the allocation of portions of the CAP budget towards eco-schemes and agro-environmental measures. He also advocated for a greater distribution of power at both the regional and local level, urging the European Commission to decentralise CAP policies so that they may be better suited to diverse contexts.

Next, Irène Tolleret, Ad-Interim Chair of the European Food Forum and Vice-President of LeaderFrance, highlighted the central role that dialogue and collaboration play in overcoming polarisation. “The divides surrounding food systems reflect deeper social and political rifts,” she noted. Ms Tolleret suggested the creation of multistakeholder forums, similar to those employed at the European Food Forum, that would bring together a range of actors – from farmers to consumers, policymakers to businesses. These platforms for collaboration, she remarked, would create space for inclusive dialogue and bridge narrative divides, ensuring that suggested solutions are both relevant and sustainable.

Marcin Napiórkowski, Contemporary Mythologies Scholar and Narrative Scientist at Re-Imagine Europa, elaborated upon the ways that polarisation is driven by collective narratives, moulding public attitudes towards policies and innovation. He noted that recent protests, for example, often found their roots in farmers’ negative images of “eco-activists” and “green politicians” rather than in specific policy details. Therefore, he suggested, there is a need to reframe these narratives so that they are more inclusive. Such action should begin with actively listening to – and engaging with – one another’s concerns and perspectives.

The workshop’s final speaker, Anna Bruen, Senior Expert of Sustainable Food Systems at ICLEI Europe, advocated for inclusive (co-)governance and co-creation in the transition to sustainable food systems. Ms Bruen stressed the importance of including diverse actors in decision-making processes, particularly through projects like ICLEI’s FoodPathS, which brings together research organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders to develop innovative governance models for food systems transformation.

Despite the range of perspectives and solutions offered at the workshop, all of the speakers recognised the importance of overcoming polarisation to ensure the stability and sustainability of food systems. The discussions underscored the need for dialogue, co-creation, and inclusive governance to overcome divisions in agricultural and food system narratives. In fostering collaboration and allowing farmers to play a central role in the process, we can build resilient, sustainable food systems that meaningfully address both environmental challenges and economic realities.