EU support for food-forests

Question for written answer  E-000657/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

According to Commission data, 42% of EU territory is forestland, which is now the subject of growing interest in the context of regional development. Greece, for example, is home to a wide variety of ‘food forest’ fruit trees. The cultivation of trees enhances the natural beauty of the landscape, while providing sap, bark and fibre for humans and free-grazing livestock, for beekeeping, confectionery, etc. Many of these tree species are also fire-resistant, a particularly valuable asset in view of the numerous fires that have devastated the fragile Mediterranean landscape in recent years.

Sustainable forestry is traditional in Greece. This, together with new arable farming techniques and innovative processing technology to maximise added value, makes it possible to diversify agricultural earnings while ensuring a healthy planet for future generations, in line with climate protection and local biodiversity preservation goals.

In view of this:

Can the Commission say whether it has, or plans to obtain, information regarding the advantages of food-forests?

If it sees advantages, will it earmark specific funding for food forests in a bid to achieve the 2030 biodiversity target of planting three billion trees? If so, for which programmes are national and regional authorities entitled to seek funding?

Is tree cultivation eligible for climate change adaptation investment under Articles 17-18 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, for the purposes of national rural development programmes forming part of the CAP?