Agriculture is one of the most heavily subsidized industries in the European Union. Yet farmers are struggling to generate profits – or break even – as they face massive investment and maintenance costs, unpredictable climates, and volatile prices. Meanwhile, consumers are placing increased scrutiny on how their food is produced and where it comes from.

The economics of farming and food trade is highly complex – and 2018 promises to be a pivotal year in Europe. Policymakers, industry leaders, farmers and other key agricultural and food influencers gathered to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities head-on, including:

• Will public authorities find the right balance with CAP reform under way and new trade deals in the works?
• How will farmers adjust to the subsidies cut planned within the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF)?
• Can small-scale farming and industrial agriculture co-exist harmoniously? Is one better than the other when it comes to promoting sustainability in our agri-food systems?
• What kind of food production model do we want for the future in Europe?

Building on the success of the inaugural 2017 edition, on November 27, 2018, POLITICO’s Agriculture and Food Summit 2018 returned to Paris to convene some of the world’s agriculture and food leaders. On the menu, a day of dynamic programming, serving a mix of panel discussions, keynotes, and breakout sessions moderated by POLITICO’s top agriculture and food policy journalists. We have discussed the most pressing issues ranging from farm economics to food trade, and whether or not Europe’s agri-food systems can stand on their own two feet.