The JRC, in collaboration with DG AGRI, has published the proceedings of the Spring 2026 Outlook Workshop, which took place on 20-21 May 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, market experts and stakeholders to discuss the drivers shaping EU agricultural markets towards 2035 and to help identify the assumptions for the upcoming EU Agricultural Outlook 2026.

A key takeaway from the discussions is that uncertainty has become a structural challenge for EU agriculture, underscoring the necessity of strengthening the sector’s resilience. Energy prices, geopolitical risks, fertiliser dependency and evolving trade relations are interacting with longer-term changes in agricultural production and demand. The workshop also examined the implications of new trade agreements and geopolitical disruptions, alongside cross-cutting issues such as climate adaptation, land use, the bioeconomy, automation and food loss and waste reduction.

The workshop directly contributes to the preparation of the upcoming EU Agricultural Outlook 2026. The insights, assumptions and scenario analyses discussed during the workshop feed into the Outlook baseline and scenario analysis. The proceedings therefore offer insights into the key economic, policy and market factors being considered in developing the medium-term prospects for EU agricultural markets and farm outlook.