In a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, deepening societal polarisation and escalating environmental challenges, the inaugural Strategic Food Summit, themed “Reimagine Food & Agriculture: A Strategic Summit on the Narratives that Shape our Reality”, convened over two days of high-level dialogue and reflection. Hosted at the European Parliament and the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB), the event was organised by Re-Imagine Europa in collaboration with a diverse coalition of partners and key actors from European institutions.
The summit opened with a powerful call to foster inclusive, multi-stakeholder platforms to bridge divides between science, policy, and practice. Creating shared language around sustainability, aligning goals across sectors, and building on existing frameworks were all seen as foundational steps toward a resilient and equitable agri-food future. the event, a strong consensus emerged: the transformation of Europe’s food systems will only be possible through inclusive governance, emotionally resonant storytelling, and policy frameworks that reflect both scientific innovation and social realities. Rather than layering on new regulation, participants called for smarter use of existing tools, built on trust, transparency, and long-term strategic thinking.
A key theme echoed across sessions was the urgent need to move beyond siloed approaches. Bridging the gaps between environmental ambition, economic resilience, and social equity requires co-designed policy that reflects the full agri-food supply chain: from production to consumption. Participants emphasised the importance of aligning agricultural policy with the lived experiences of farmers, consumers, and rural communities, and called for a renewed focus on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a lever for both sustainability and social cohesion.
Equally, climate action was reframed not only as a technical challenge but as a matter of identity and values. Effective communication must move past crisis messaging to reflect people’s agency and aspirations. Stories that resonate, led by trusted voices like farmers and local leaders, can build the foundations for a more democratic and grounded climate transition.
Innovation featured prominently in discussions around competitiveness and sustainability. From digital tools to biotechnology and New Genomic Techniques, participants stressed the need for adaptive governance that that support a broader toolbox of agricultural innovations. Transformation, they argued, cannot rely on science alone: it must be backed by public trust, participatory processes, supportive markets and narratives that make innovation tangible, relatable, and desirable.
Geopolitical volatility and food system fragility were also at the forefront of the discussion. With growing instability affecting everything from food security to migration, the summit called for a recalibration of global cooperation. Stronger local food economies, redefined development partnerships, particularly with African nations, and a new framing of Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a strategic investment, not a cost, are vital to building resilience and peace.
Finally, discussions on digitalisation and artificial intelligence highlighted both the promise and the complexity of building a future-ready “toolbox for farmers.” While examples of cutting-edge solutions were shared, participants identified ongoing barriers such as low awareness, limited training, demographic challenges, and mistrust in AI systems. Overcoming these requires not only infrastructure but also inclusive narratives and knowledge ecosystems that empower farmers as central actors in the digital transition.
As the Summit drew to a close, the final message was clear: Europe has the vision for sustainable, climate-resilient food systems, but the challenge lies in making that vision implementable. This will mean investing in innovation, empowering local actors, strengthening existing policy mechanisms, and most importantly, shifting the narratives that shape how we understand food, agriculture, and our shared future.
The Reimagine Food & Agriculture Summit marks the launch of a sustained, strategic initiative aimed at transforming the narratives, policies, and collaborations essential to the future of food systems. By convening a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the summit established a foundational platform for continued engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration driven by a concerted effort to build trust, align interests, and adapt to the evolving challenges facing the agri-food sector.
