ECVC condemns war in Iran and alerts on its impact on food sovereignty

We stand unequivocally against war in all its forms and condemn the direct impact that they have on peasants, farmers, rural communities, and the fundamental human right to food. The current escalation involving Iran risks widening an already fragile global situation marked by prolonged conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Georgia, Yemen, Sudan, and beyond. These wars are interconnected through a global system driven by competition over resources, geopolitical domination, and economic interests that prioritise profit over life. We condemn the double standards that many countries have consistently used, denouncing some aggressions while supporting others. This attitude is fully irresponsible and weakens not only international law but also the credibility of European diplomacy.

War, food crisis, and the destruction of rural livelihoods

War destroys agriculture at its roots, turning fields into battlefields, displacing farmers, destroying rural infrastructure, and facilitating the speculation of resources.

Conflicts are the primary driver of hunger today. In war zones, food systems are not only collateral damage, but are often deliberately targeted and heavily impacted. Reduced agricultural production destabilises food supply, while rising energy and input costs, such as fuel and fertilisers, increase the economic burden on farmers who already struggle to survive. Increased volatility in global markets leads to price spikes and shortages, while rural communities face displacement, poverty, and long term ecological damage.

European farmers are not isolated from these impacts. The war in Iran and broader geopolitical tensions threaten to further destabilise already fragile agricultural systems, increasing production costs and deepening uncertainty for farmers across Europe.

War exposes the fragility of a system that relies on long supply chains, imported inputs, and speculative markets. It underscores the urgent need to reinvest in the relocalisation of food systems and to strengthen farmers’ autonomy. Yet this is the exact opposite of what the EU is doing: cutting the budget dedicated to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) while simultaneously negotiating a new wave of free trade agreements that further integrate agricultural production. The cumulative effect of these agreements, keeping prices artificially low, will harm farmers and agricultural workers first and foremost. ECVC thus calls on European and international institutions and the wider global community to:

We further call for strengthening international legal mechanisms to hold aggressors accountable and to protect civilian populations, including rural communities.

ECVC also calls on peasants, farmers, rural workers, and citizens across Europe to stand up and mobilise:

ECVC reaffirms that food sovereignty is essential to peace.