Interview with Janez Potočnik

In our first podcast of 2026, we discuss with the Forum for the Future of Agriculture Chairman Janez Potočnik what's on the Forum's agenda for the new year ahead and get an update on some details about the Annual Conference taking place at the Square in Brussels on April 14th.

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks to Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice President and Regional Director for Europe, World Resources Institute (WRI) and former Minister for the Environment and Housing in the Netherlands. During the discussion they reflect on the outcomes of COP30 in Belém and explore how WRI Europe is working to accelerate progress on sustainable land use, climate action and food system transformation.

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Rose O’Donovan talks to Jurgen Tack, the Secretary General of the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) about the Forum’s recent report on financing the transition to a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system. The conversation explores tensions, new approaches to public and private financing, the potential of nature credits, and ongoing debates around the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Find out more about the report on the Forum website at https://forumforag.com/article/2025-financing-transition-report

On November 25, the Forum will host a webinar on the policy side of nutrient management. Ahead of that, this Food Systems podcast episode takes a look at efficient nutrient management and recycling, exploring how EU-funded projects like NutriBudget and ReNu2Cycle are helping to scale closed-loop nutrient systems for smarter nutrient management, to minimise negative impacts on environment and human health, and ensure sustainable food production. Find out more about the upcoming webinar or register at https://forumforag.com/events/2025-aligning-policy-practice-and-innovation-for-sustainable-agriculture

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks to Dave Hughes, Head Technology Identification and Evaluation for Crop Protection, Syngenta. They discuss innovation focus and progress, and deep dive into digital technologies, biological pest control and genomic techniques, highlighting the importance of innovation for Europe.

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks to Emmanuelle Mikosz, Director General of the Forum for the Future of Agriculture. Emma explains her new role and discusses the upcoming publications, events and other activities planned between now and the next Annual Conference in April 2026.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall. At the Forum for the Future of Agriculture, we were honoured to welcome Dr. Goodall as an inspirational speaker in 2023. Her words were not only profoundly moving but served as a powerful call to action for all of us working toward a more sustainable and compassionate future. We repeat the original interview as a reminder of her unwavering dedication to conservation, animal welfare and the interconnectedness of all life.

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks, during an interview at this year's Forum for the Future of Agriculture Annual Conference, to Tobias Bandel, Co-founder of The Landbanking Group and also a farmer. Tobias explains that the Landbanking Group was founded out of frustration that sustainability projects always got stuck in the “pilot world”. Sourcing sustainably was a competitive disadvantage because it added costs and they realized that if a company can demonstrably show that they are investing in risk reduction, it can be considered an asset because it creates corporate value and ensures business continuity. 

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks, during an interview at this year's Forum for the Future of Agriculture Annual Conference, to Jurgen Tack, Secretary-General of the European Landowners’ Organization. Jurgen explains how at the conference we hear a good mix of possibilities, from market instruments like carbon farming and biodiversity credits to the role of subsidies and profitability. However, profitability is often lost in the discussion, but it is the most important aspect of any farming activity in Europe. He believes that we have to start thinking about a longer-term system with less subsidies and higher profitability for farmers.

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, Alex Turk talks, during an interview at this year's Forum for the Future of Agriculture Annual Conference, to Grzegorz Brodziak, farmer and CEO Goodvalley, Poland, and President of the Management Board, Polska Federacja Rolna. Representing over 1,000 farms across Poland, Grzegorz explains that with geopolitical chaos and changing circumstances, farmers need stability to keep production going and remain competitive. He believes that we need to take a step back and find a wise way to implement necessary climate and environmental changes without threatening the existence of European agriculture.