In a written answer on 6 August 2026, Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen told the European Parliament that the EU is already addressing the dependency on critical agricultural inputs through a combination of existing and new policy tools, rather than preparing a single dedicated strategy. Responding to a question from Romanian MEP Daniel Buda (EPP), Hansen argued that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will continue to support farmers in the transition to more resilient practices in the 2028-2034 programming period, and he pointed to a series of measures that collectively aim to secure supply of fertilisers, seeds, and other inputs.
The answer, which came in response to Buda's query about a possible European strategy for critical agricultural inputs, outlined several initiatives that Hansen said would protect farmers from external shocks. These include a proposed preparedness framework in the amended Common Market Organisation Regulation, which would operationalise the Preparedness Union Strategy and the EU Stockpiling Strategy to ensure continuity of supply during severe crises. Hansen also cited the Agri-Food Chain Observatory, established to monitor input costs such as fertilisers, and the Critical Raw Materials Act of 2024, which aims to reduce dependency on third markets for essential materials. He noted that the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act has applied since 29 May 2026, and he highlighted the recently adopted Fertilisers Action Plan, which seeks to boost EU production capacity by promoting bio-based fertilisers and recycled nutrients. Additionally, he said the Emissions Trading System combined with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) would steer fertiliser production towards decarbonisation, thereby shielding farmers from external shocks.
While Hansen's answer was largely a summary of existing measures rather than an announcement of new proposals, it signals the Commission's preference for a multi-pronged approach over a single, overarching strategy. The response did not include specific numerical targets or new deadlines, but it reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to using regulatory and market-based tools to enhance the resilience of the agri-food sector. The reference to the amended Common Market Organisation Regulation suggests that legislative work is ongoing, and the Fertilisers Action Plan, adopted earlier in 2026, is expected to be a key vehicle for reducing dependency on imported inputs. Buda's question reflects broader concerns among farmers about rising costs and supply disruptions, and the answer may be followed by further parliamentary scrutiny as the Commission develops its proposals for the next CAP period. Stakeholders, including EU farmers, fertiliser producers, and national authorities, will be watching for concrete implementation details, particularly on how the preparedness framework and stockpiling measures will operate in practice. The Commission's approach balances the goal of strategic autonomy with the need to maintain competitive input prices, though the reliance on CBAM and ETS could raise production costs for domestic fertiliser manufacturers in the short term.