Don’t be like Europe.

That was the message to farmers during a keynote speech at this year’s CropConnect Conference in Winnipeg in mid-February.

“The European approach in general is that, ‘We have gotten things absolutely right,’” said speaker Bill Wirtz. “Essentially, ‘You have no idea what you’re doing. It’s only us.’”

“When have millions of Europeans ever been wrong?” he added, to audience laughter.

Why it matters: European farmers have chafed under the bloc’s strict environmental regulations and policies, which have sparked protests in several countries. 

Wirtz, originally from Luxembourg, is a senior policy analyst with the think tank Consumer Choice Center. His organization has been critical of European Union authorities, including EU food and agricultural policies.

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Bill Wirtz is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Consumer Choice Centre who specializes in evidence-based policy-making, agriculture, trade policy, and lifestyle choices. Originally from Luxembourg, he publishes in German, French, and English. Wirtz keynoted the recent CropConnect conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In an interview following the CropConnect presentation, Wirtz focused on the EU’s Farm-to-Fork Strategy.

The European Union’s agriculture reforms, introduced under the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, were set with high expectations. This strategy outlines key goals for the EU’s agricultural sector, with legislation designed to achieve them. But in Wirtz’s words, the strategy failed.

By 2030, the strategy aimed to reduce synthetic pesticide use by 50%, cut fertilizer use by 20%, and increase organic production to 25% (currently at about 10%, significantly higher than Canada but still a fraction of the total output. Reduce farmland by 10% across the EU.

These ambitious reforms were intended to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact, though their effectiveness and impact on food production remain controversial.

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WINNIPEG – Canada should be pushing back against the European Union on agricultural regulations and its attempts to impose its policies on other countries, says a consumer advocate.

The EU has been promoting the idea of “mirror clauses,” in which farmers in other countries must follow regulations that apply to European producers.

If not, the EU won’t accept commodities such as canola and durum from Canada.

“To trade with us, your regulatory level needs to mirror ours,” said Bill Wirtz, senior policy analyst for the Consumer Choice Center, who specializes in agriculture and trade.

The consumer advocacy group is an international organization, with offices in Washington, Brussels, London and Kuala Lumpur.

“You can only export to Europe if the production methods are comparable to Europe.”

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The European approach to agricultural regulation is often seen as a model of success, notes Bill Wirtz, senior policy analyst for the Consumer Choice Center based in Washington, D.C. 

“But I’m here to tell you—it’s not the case.” 

Wirtz, who hails from Luxembourg, opened today’s CropConnect conference in Winnipeg, Man., and doesn’t mince words when it comes to the European Union’s agricultural policies. He believes they’re not only problematic for Europe but could pose a threat to Canada in terms of trade, perception, and policy influence.

“There’s this idea that Europe has things figured out, and if only you replicated their model, you’d achieve greatness,” he says. “That’s simply not true.”

Understanding the EU: A Labyrinth of Complexity

“Who here thinks they understand how the European Union works?” Wirtz asks, smirking. “Nobody does—not even the people who work in it.”

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