The European Union (EU) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have unveiled new policy frameworks aimed at revitalizing agriculture, boosting farmers’ incomes, and strengthening food security, signaling a decisive shift toward more interventionist strategies to protect the sector from global volatility.

In Europe, the initiative follows an extraordinary meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers on January 7, where the European Commission elevated food security as a core pillar of the Union’s broader security and sovereignty agenda. In response to market uncertainty, climate pressures, and high input costs, the EU announced financial support and regulatory safeguards to stabilize farm incomes and sustain production.

Central to the plan is the protection of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget, including a proposed National and Regional Partnership Fund of €293.7 billion to ensure predictable income support and long-term investment for farmers. Additionally, a new €6.3 billion Unity Safety Net was introduced to protect farmers from natural disasters, climate shocks, and animal diseases. Temporary tariff reductions on ammonia and urea fertilisers were also proposed to ease input costs, while Member States can increase rural development spending through National and Regional Partnership Plans.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, emphasized that farming remains critical to Europe’s strategic autonomy. “Farming and the agri-food sector are essential for European sovereignty. The CAP safeguards farmers’ incomes while promoting long-term sustainability,” he said. Plans include at least €300 billion ring-fenced for farmers, with an additional €49–63 billion dedicated to rural development, research, and innovation.

In Nigeria, a parallel urgency was evident at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31), where leaders highlighted agriculture and agribusiness as engines of industrialization and competitiveness. The summit’s framework prioritizes infrastructure, innovation, regional integration, and value-chain development, moving away from raw commodity exports toward agro-industrialization.

The NESG stressed the need for policy coherence, effective execution, and decentralization, calling on federal and state governments to empower local authorities, strengthen accountability, and integrate socio-economic interventions with security measures to protect farming communities. Tools like the Citizen Delivery Tracker were proposed to monitor government performance and ensure reforms deliver tangible benefits to farmers.

Both the EU and NESG frameworks reflect a growing recognition that agriculture is central to economic resilience, food security, and sustainable development in Europe and Nigeria alike.