Priorities

Modern farm machines are seen as a main driver for increased sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness in farming nowadays. Smart technologies, developed by the industry, have proven to reduce the impact of farming practices in EU agriculture. The European agricultural machinery industry is fully committed to produce machines that on top of being the main working tools for the farming community, can help in solving environmental challenges while increasing productivity and bringing economic benefits for all actors involved. The key words for the industry are fast, accurate, versatile and intelligent. Crucial actions to achieve the expected results involve measuring, transferring and receiving, analysing, and acting accordingly.

Producing safe and increasingly performant smart farm machines it is at the core of the European agricultural machinery industry. EU product legislation, and the harmonisation it brings, is highly appreciated by the industry. For the agricultural machinery sector, however, “Better Regulation” means appropriateness, in terms of conformity procedures, tests and reporting.

Appropriate administrative and technical requirements ensure that the sector continues to have the necessary freedom to innovate, despite the many types and low volumes. Farm machinery are not cars but, effectively, investment tools for farmers and should be treated as such.

Innovation in the agri-food sector remains a priority on the European agenda. Research programmes such as H2020 or the EIP-agri initiative currently devote a key place to enhancing a more sustainable agriculture in Europe. Being a technology leader, the ag machinery industry has found its place being part of several EU projects and pan-European initiatives. Furthermore, the farm equipment industry is well-known as the enabler closing the gap between academic research, practices on the ground and farmers’ needs. Setting-up strategic partnerships and solid collaborations allows the industry to get a closer look at different farming realities and develop suitable equipment for all size farms at EU level.

The world’s population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. This comes with the pressing need to keep pace in food production in a sustainable manner. The European Agricultural Industry is committed to providing the tools that can help in improving the timeliness of agricultural production operations, increasing the efficiency of input use and making agriculture more resilient to face unpredictable climatic events. With a special focus on supporting sustainable agricultural mechanization (SAM) strategies in developing areas, the farm equipment industry contributes to the achievements of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to: produce more with less, advance farming systems worldwide and maintain viable lively rural areas.