In 2025, Europe’s food security remains a complex issue, shaped by a combination of resilience, vulnerabilities, and ongoing global and regional challenges. While the European Union (EU) benefits from a robust agricultural sector and a high degree of self-sufficiency in many food products, factors such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, rising input costs, and supply chain disruptions pose risks to long-term stability. This article explores the state of food security in Europe in 2025, drawing on recent developments, challenges, and strategies to ensure a stable and sustainable food supply.
Europe’s Food Security: A Strong Foundation with Emerging Risks
The EU’s food security is underpinned by its well-developed agricultural sector, which ensures that food availability is not currently at risk for most of the continent. The EU is largely self-sufficient in key agricultural products such as cereals, dairy, and meat, with a strong Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that supports farmers and promotes sustainable practices. In 2023, the EU allocated €300 billion to the CAP for 2023–2027, incentivizing resilient and environmentally friendly farming practices.
However, Europe’s food system faces vulnerabilities. The EU is a net importer of specific commodities, such as feed protein, fertilizers, and energy-intensive inputs, which exposes the agricultural sector to global market fluctuations. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine highlighted these dependencies, as disruptions in grain, fertilizer, and energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine drove up production costs and food prices across the continent. While the EU has since taken steps to mitigate these risks, challenges persist in 2025.
Key Challenges to Food Security in 2025
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Geopolitical Instability and Trade Disruptions
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to impact global food markets, with ripple effects in Europe. Although the EU’s domestic food supply remains stable, the conflict has increased input costs (e.g., fertilizers and energy) and disrupted trade flows. Ukraine, a major supplier of wheat and maize, faced significant export challenges due to Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports. Initiatives like the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, which facilitated the export of over 23 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products by 2023, have helped stabilize global supply chains. However, the potential expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2025 could exacerbate global food insecurity, indirectly affecting Europe’s import-dependent sectors. -
Climate Change and Environmental Pressures
Climate change poses a growing threat to European agriculture. Extreme weather events, such as the 2022 droughts and heatwaves, reduced crop yields in several EU countries, and similar conditions are forecast to persist in 2025. The European Investment Bank projects that global warming could increase agricultural yield volatility, with potential farm income losses rising by 42–66% by mid-century. Additionally, a 2023 Joint Research Centre (JRC) report identified 28 types of risks to the EU food supply chain, including biophysical and environmental factors like droughts, floods, and temperature changes. -
Rising Costs and Food Affordability
High input costs for energy, fertilizers, and feed continue to challenge European farmers, driving up food production costs and retail prices. In 2023, food price inflation exceeded 5% in 85.5% of high-income European countries, with some experiencing double-digit inflation. While inflation has slightly eased by 2025, affordability remains a concern, particularly for low-income households. Posts on X indicate that 7% of the EU population faces moderate to severe food insecurity, with vulnerable groups like migrant agricultural workers at higher risk. -
Seed Production and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Seed production, a critical component of food security, faces challenges from weather extremes, pests, and geopolitical shifts. The loss of Ukraine and Russia as profitable seed markets has forced European producers to compete in saturated local markets, increasing costs and risks. Experts emphasize the need for improved field management and diversified production locations to secure seed supply chains. -
Socio-Economic and Nutritional Challenges
While food availability is not a major issue, access to nutritious and affordable food remains uneven. A 2025 report notes that nearly 60 million Europeans suffered from serious food insecurity in 2021, with 11.9 million cases linked to climate change. Malnutrition, particularly among children and vulnerable populations, is a growing concern, with the EU aiming to reduce stunting in children under five by 10% by 2025. The rise in unhealthy diets high in fats, sugars, and ultra-processed foods is also driving obesity and related health issues across the continent.
EU Strategies and Initiatives for Food Security
The EU has prioritized food security as a top political agenda for 2024–2029, as outlined in the leaked draft of the EU’s Strategic Agenda. Several initiatives are underway to strengthen the resilience of the European food system:
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European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM)
Established in 2021, the EFSCM fosters cooperation between public and private sectors to assess and mitigate risks to food supply chains. In 2024, the EFSCM released new guidelines to protect food supply chains, emphasizing adaptability and collaboration. Scheduled meetings in 2025, including a focus on qualitative assessments (March 12) and stockpiling in the agri-food and fisheries sectors (May 6), aim to further strengthen preparedness. -
Vision for Agriculture and Food
In February 2025, the European Commission released its Vision for Agriculture and Food, a roadmap to create a competitive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food system by 2040. Key priorities include supporting young farmers through a 2025 generational renewal strategy, reducing import dependencies, and promoting sustainable practices to meet climate targets. The vision also emphasizes digitalization, innovation, and simplifying regulations to reduce administrative burdens on farmers. -
Sustainable Food Systems and Research
The EU’s Food 2030 initiative, aligned with the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, promotes research and innovation for sustainable food systems. Horizon Europe (2025–2027) will fund projects to enhance resilience, reduce environmental impact, and improve nutrition. The EU is also investing in agroecology and reducing food waste to address socio-economic and environmental challenges. -
Global and Regional Support
The EU has committed €8 billion (2020–2024) to global food security, supporting food systems in around 70 countries. In 2025, the EU continues to aid Ukraine’s food security strategy and provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable regions, such as €225 million for Southern neighborhood partners in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, programs like the Food Systems Resilience Program in Eastern and Southern Africa enhance global food system stability, indirectly benefiting Europe’s supply chains.
Regional Disparities and Long-Term Outlook
Food security in Europe varies by region. A 2024 study found that food security peaked in 2014 but declined in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe due to economic and geopolitical challenges. Factors like gross capital formation, agricultural value-added, and trade openness are critical for long-term stability, while urbanization and climate change have mixed short- and long-term impacts. Western Europe, particularly high-income countries like Finland, Ireland, and Norway, scores highly on the Global Food Security Index, driven by affordability, availability, and quality. However, Eastern and Southern Europe face greater vulnerabilities due to lower economic resilience and exposure to climate risks.
Looking ahead, the EU’s focus on reducing import dependencies, diversifying supply chains, and investing in sustainable practices will be crucial. The 2025 EU Agricultural Outlook (2024–2035) highlights the role of biotechnology, AI, and the bioeconomy in enhancing food security. However, achieving a balance between competitiveness, sustainability, and affordability remains a challenge, particularly as global food crises show no signs of abating, with 295.3 million people worldwide facing acute food insecurity in 2024
Conclusion
In 2025, Europe’s food security is robust but not immune to challenges. The EU’s self-sufficiency, strong agricultural policies, and proactive initiatives like the EFSCM and Vision for Agriculture provide a solid foundation. However, geopolitical conflicts, climate change, and rising costs continue to test the resilience of the food system. By prioritizing innovation, sustainability, and fair incomes for farmers, the EU aims to secure its food supply while contributing to global food security. Addressing regional disparities and ensuring affordable, nutritious food for all Europeans will be critical to maintaining stability in an increasingly volatile world.
