EU: Commission Presents Vision for Agriculture and Food
In February 2025, the European Commission has presented its “Vision for Agriculture and Food,” a strategic roadmap to secure the future of the agri-food sector in Europe. The vision aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of farming and food production by 2040, focusing on areas such as innovation, climate adaptation, and fair working conditions in rural areas. It includes measures to reduce unfair trading practices, enhance market transparency, and support young people entering agricultural careers.
EU: Omnibus Package Proposes Changes in CSRD, CSDD, and Taxonomy
The European Commission has adopted a so-called “Omnibus” package of proposals aimed at simplifying EU rules, boosting competitiveness, and unlocking additional investment capacity. Particularly relevant are the proposed changes to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the EU Taxonomy rules:
Key proposed CSRD changes:
- Only companies with >1,000 employees and either a turnover of >€50 million or a balance sheet total of >€25 million will be required to comply with the CSRD.
- Reporting requirements for large companies that have not yet started implementing the CSRD and listed SMEs will be postponed by two years.
- The sector-specific standards requirement will be eliminated.
Key proposed CSDDD changes:
- The initial reporting deadline will be postponed from July 26, 2027, to July 26, 2028.
- Full due diligence will only be required for the value chain beyond direct business partners only in cases where the company has plausible information suggesting that adverse impacts have arisen or may arise there.
- Companies will be required to assess direct suppliers every five years instead of annually.
- The information that companies may request from SME and small midcap business partners (i.e. companies with <500 employees) will be limited to the information specified in the CSRD voluntary sustainability reporting standards.
Key proposed EU Taxonomy changes:
- Voluntary Taxonomy reporting for companies within the future CSRD scope (large companies that have more than 1,000 employees) with a net turnover up to 450 million.
- Simplification of the reporting templates, leading to a reduction of data points by almost 70%.
- Exemption of companies from assessing Taxonomy-eligibility and alignment of their economic activities that are not financially material for their business (e.g. those not exceeding 10% of their total turnover, capital expenditure, or total assets).
The proposal is currently under review by the European Parliament and Council.
EU: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Enters Into Force
The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force on February 11, 2025, and will generally apply 18 months later. Annex V, which contains prohibited packaging formats, will apply from January 1, 2030.
USA: USAID Reinstates Canceled Contracts for Peanut-Based Therapeutic Food for Malnourished Children
Contracts between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and MANA Nutrition, a US company that makes peanut-based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), were reinstated on March 2 after being abruptly canceled the previous week, according to reporting by CNN. The cancellation of the contract for RUTF, a special paste distributed in pouches to severely malnourished children around the world, was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to drastically slash federal spending, led by the Department of Government Efficiency, a new government agency led by Elon Musk. In late February, the CEO of MANA Nutrition told CNN that the company had approximately 400,000 boxes of USAID-branded RUTF ready for shipment. He estimated that if USAID didn’t pay for these boxes, MANA could face a loss of at least US$10 million in wasted peanut butter pouches. On March 10, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration had cancelled 83% of USAID programs, and that the remaining programs would be administered under the State Department.
In other news related to the use of US peanuts in lifesaving food assistance, in February the American Peanut Council met with two UN agencies, the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization. The meetings focused on the possibility of future collaboration on RUTF production, the APC’s role in supporting US RUTF producers, and potential challenges for both US growers and global food assistance efforts stemming from the closure of USAID.