ECO-EFFICIENCY IN AGRICULTURE

Deliberation CIPE No. 57 of 2 August 2002;
Deliberation CIPE No. 108 of 22 December 2017;
Deliberation CITE No. 1 of 18 September 2023;
COM(2020) 381 final;
COM(2020) 380 final;
COM(2020) 98;
COM(2019) 640;
COM(2005) 670;
Decision No. 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013;
Decision No. 2022/591/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022;
Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 December 2020.
 

The sustainable use of natural resources, during both the production and consumption phases, is a fundamental factor for long-term prosperity at national, continental, and global levels. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the document “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. These goals, which are valid for the 2015–2030 period, replace and expand upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that expired at the end of 2015.
Among these objectives is the sustainable and efficient use of resources: Goal 15 aims to "protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss". Goal 2 seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Goal 6 is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, while Goal 12 ensures sustainable consumption and production patterns.
In 2022, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF). This framework sets an ambitious path to achieve the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature”. Key elements of the Framework include four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented targets for 2030 aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss. This historic agreement supports the achievement of the SDGs and represents the first comprehensive global effort to ensure the stability of ecosystem services essential for human security, economic development, nature conservation, and climate change mitigation.
At the European Union level, the European Green Deal [COM(2019) 640] represents a new growth strategy that aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. It envisions a future where net greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero and economic growth is decoupled from resource use. The new Circular Economy Action Plan [COM(2020) 98], “For a cleaner and more competitive Europe,” significantly contributes to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and decoupling economic growth from the use of natural resources, while ensuring long-term EU competitiveness and leaving no one behind.

The 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP) to 2030 [Decision (EU) 2022/591] aims to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, and regenerative economy that gives back to the planet more than it takes. To monitor progress, a new framework has been proposed to assess how well we are living within planetary boundaries. Furthermore, the “Farm to Fork” [COM(2020) 381] and “Biodiversity for 2030” [COM(2020) 380] strategies establish specific targets for the agricultural sector by 2030, such as dedicating at least 25% of EU agricultural land to organic farming and achieving a 50% reduction in the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides.
These instruments reinforce policy pathways designed to enable economic growth decoupled from environmental pressures and impacts resulting from natural resource use, as previously outlined in the 7th Environment Action Programme, the Circular Economy Package and its Action Plan [COM(2015) 614], the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe [COM(2011) 571], and the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy [COM(2018) 673].
In Italy, Law No. 221 of 28 December 2015, “Provisions on environmental matters to promote green economy measures and contain excessive use of natural resources,” introduced various measures relating to nature protection, sustainable development, environmental assessments, energy, green public procurement, waste management, soil conservation, and water resources. Additionally, the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNSvS), approved by CIPE Deliberation No. 108/2017 and updated in 2022 (CITE Deliberation No. 1/2023), represents the first step in translating the principles and goals of the 2030 Agenda into national policies