Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems in the EU – Legal and Policy Perspectives

The Summer School is dedicated to examining the policy and legal ramifications of the European Union's transformative approach and its transition towards sustainable solutions within the agrifood systems. This five-day programme will delve into key EU legal and policy measures pertaining to the agri-food sector. Furthermore, the Summer School will explore the international commitments of the EU, specifically its role in the global transition towards sustainable food systems.

The sessions are spread over one week, from Monday to Friday and require participants’ full-time commitment. Classes begin at 9.00 AM and end at 6.30 PM, with 1 hour and a half for lunch.

The classes will consist of lectures, seminars, discussions, role-playing and simulation games. Case studies, sessions and Q&A sessions will be planned to stimulate the exchanges between trainers and trainees, promoting the creation of a network among all the participants within an interdisciplinary environment.

Course leader

The Summer School is part of the three-years Jean Monnet SUSTAIN “Centre of Excellence on EU actions for Sustainable Farming and Food Systems”, co-funded under the EU Erasmus+ Programme. The Course Director is Prof. Mariagrazia Alabrese.

Target group

The Summer School is intended for students coming from different backgrounds, PhD candidates, young researchers and professionals working in the field of law, social sciences, agricultural engineering, economics and management, as well as officials working in national, international, and European Institutions.

Course aim

The Summer School will provide participants with the knowledge and interdisciplinary skills necessary to understand the EU legal and policy framework for building a more equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient agricultural and food systems under the new Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 and the Green Deal.

By the end of the Summer School, participants will be able to:

• understand the concept of sustainable food systems and how they work, highlighting their complexity and multiple elements in the food journey "from farm to fork";
• handle the legal and institutional landscape in which EU policies related to the food sector operate, and the role of EU Institutions in this framework;
• understand the international commitments of the EU in terms of global transition to sustainable food systems;
• manage the conceptual framework concerning, inter alia, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food security, food wastage, land management, and inclusive rural development.