The European Green Deal's Farm to Fork Strategy aims to make Europe's food systems more resilient, healthier, and sustainable by integrating agricultural, ecological, and nutritional aspects. The transition to sustainable food systems is urgent due to climate crisis factors like soil degradation and biodiversity loss, as well as rising obesity levels. Farmers are crucial in this transition, and recent EU protests emphasize the need for financial support and policy adaptation. The Euractiv Hybrid Conference will address financial challenges, policy frameworks, and market conditions to support sustainable practices.

The future of EU-US trade relations is poised for change with the upcoming 2024 elections on both sides of the Atlantic. The Trade and Technology Council, established in 2021, serves as a platform for revitalizing transatlantic cooperation on trade, economic, and technology issues. The outcome of the elections could lead to shifts in priorities and strategies, potentially impacting trade agreements and competitiveness policies. Key questions include the impact on European multinationals and SMEs, the role of the US Inflation Reduction Act, and the implications for EU security and defense in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The conference aims to explore these issues and the potential for new agreements and collaborations.

Gas venting, flaring, and leakage result in significant wastage, with 267 billion cubic metres of natural gas potentially recoverable to meet 70% of the EU's annual consumption. Capturing this gas could generate revenue, enhance energy security, and mitigate global warming. However, challenges such as poor data, lack of incentives, and economic feasibility hinder progress. A new whitepaper from CATF aims to guide the EU's 'You Collect We Buy' initiative to address these issues, with discussions set to occur ahead of COP29 to foster necessary partnerships and coordination.

Christophe Leclercq, Founder of Euractiv and Chairman of Europe MédiaLab, shared insights from the 'Stars4Media Day' event, focusing on the future of the media sector. Key discussions included preparing the media landscape in Eastern Europe for potential EU enlargement, ensuring economic sustainability, and exploring AI's role in media. The event also addressed combating disinformation during wartime, and introduced the new project 'Maison du Médialab'.

Europe is committed to ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, but many countries are not on track to meet global goals. An estimated 765,000 people in EU/EEA countries live with HIV, with 23,000 new cases annually. A report by BCG, commissioned by Gilead Sciences, emphasizes the need for sustained funding, innovation, and policy efforts. The EU is urged to coordinate initiatives, support member states, and maintain political momentum. Key questions include the role of biomedical innovations, funding, and best practices for testing.

The Nature Conservancy is set to release a study identifying low-conflict land in Europe suitable for renewable energy projects, aiming to balance energy needs with conservation. The study supports the revised Renewable Energy Directive, which requires European countries to map renewable energy areas and designate Renewable Acceleration Areas by 2026. The study suggests Europe can achieve 45% renewables by 2030 through smart siting practices, emphasizing the importance of integrating energy, biodiversity, and community considerations to accelerate sustainable energy deployment and address climate change.

The European Commission has approved new ESG legislation aimed at enhancing investor confidence in sustainable products and encouraging carbon removal projects in Europe. The legislation includes a proposal for regulation on transparency and integrity of ESG rating activities to address concerns about transparency and methodology. Carbon and biodiversity credits are highlighted as tools for companies to offset their carbon footprint. The implications of the legislation on corporate investment in carbon removal projects, integration of credits into environmental strategies, and the impact of carbon credit prices on costs are key discussion points.

The ENEFIRST Plus project, led by senior expert Jean-Sébastien Broc and Managing Director Vlasios Oikonomou, aims to promote energy efficiency in line with the EU's Energy Efficiency First principle. The project includes eight case studies across Italy, Poland, Greece, and Croatia, focusing on realistic strategies to enhance energy efficiency without incurring excessive costs.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski emphasized the importance of keeping agricultural products out of the current trade tensions between the EU and China, highlighting China's role as a key partner for EU exports. Despite potential retaliatory tariffs from China on EU agricultural products, Wojciechowski stressed the need to protect the agricultural sector from political disputes. He also discussed the significance of agri-food trade in ensuring food security and described it as an exchange of culture and heritage.

The European Union aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, facing significant challenges in reducing fossil fuel dependency and increasing zero and low carbon energy capacities. EDF presents its latest scenario, emphasizing the role of electrification and new power sector dynamics in this transition. The event highlights the need for a balanced approach to decarbonization, ensuring social sustainability and energy security for European citizens and businesses.