We invite stakeholders to join our upcoming Stakeholder Retreat on “Looking into the Crystal Ball – Futures of EU Agriculture” with a focus on validating updated baselines and exploring credible transition pathways to drive impactful and informed decision-making for the future. We are seeking participants eager to share their knowledge and experience on this topic.
This lunch-to-lunch event will take place in Martin’s Klooster, Leuven, Belgium, from 23 September 2025 to 24 September 2025.
The retreat aims to present and gather feedback on updated baseline scenarios and draft transition pathways, ensuring their credibility, relevance, and alignment with stakeholder insights.
The objective of the event is to co-develop credible, evidence-based transition pathways for EU agriculture and food systems that support the EU’s long-term vision and stay within planetary boundaries. More specifically, to
- validate and refine updated baseline scenarios in light of recent developments.
- explore the feasibility and implications of alternative transition pathways for EU agriculture and food.
- ensure that stakeholder perspectives and expertise are directly reflected in scenario design and assessment.
- strengthen links between modelling evidence and real-world policy needs to support the EU’s Green Deal, the EU’s long-term vision on agriculture and food, and climate neutrality objectives.
Participants will be invited to:
- Explore draft baseline and transition pathways and provide critical feedback.
- Discuss key assumptions and drivers shaping the future of EU agriculture.
- Assess potential economic, social, environmental, and climate impacts of different transition options.
- Share their expertise and perspectives to help ensure scenarios reflect diverse real-world contexts across Europe.
The event provides a unique opportunity for participants to
- Influence the development of future transition pathways that may guide EU agricultural and food policy. by providing input on key scenario assumptions to ensure their perspectives and expertise are reflected in the design of credible alternative futures,
- Network with peers, policymakers, agri-food system actors and researchers from across Europe.
- Exchange ideas and innovative practices to accelerate the transition to more sustainable, just, and resilient agricultural systems.
- Gain early insight into the direction of baseline and transition scenario work that may impact their sector or area of activity.
📅 Deadline for expressions of interest: 10 September 2025, 17:00 CET
👉 To express your interest in participating please contact us through the BrightSpace Stakeholder Community contact form.
We are especially looking for participation from farmers, food producers, policymakers, NGOs, consumer organisations, researchers, and civil society actors — with strong representation from Eastern and Southern Europe.
Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape the future of EU agriculture!
Important to Know
How we select participants
We want this retreat to be interactive, inspiring, and diverse. To help us get there, applications will be assessed on the following:
- Interest & motivation: Tell us why this topic of the retreat matters to you and how you connect to its main goals.
- Expertise & openness: Bring along your knowledge, and be ready to share and exchange ideas with others.
- Impact: Tell us how your participation could strengthen your own work and benefit your stakeholders or network.
- Involvement: If you’re already part of relevant projects or initiatives, let us know.
- Balance: We’ll make sure to have a good mix of participants across countries, professional backgrounds, organisations, and projects.
The selection process
- To keep the group focused and interactive, only one participant per organisation/project will normally be accepted.
- Spaces are limited, so not everyone who applies can be accommodated. Our aim is to build a community with a broad geographical spread and diverse perspectives.
Travel & accommodation
- Participation is free of charge.
- If your project or organisation cannot cover your travel and hotel costs, these will be covered by the BrightSpace Horizon Europe project.
- Please do not book any travel or accommodation until you’ve received confirmation that your application has been successful.
