Today the European Union has taken on both the challenge of energy security and that of
food security. In the last decade the European legislature has specifically focused its attention
on ensuring energy security in the European Union, probably thinking that the problem
of European food security had already been solved. Having a secure supply of energy is crucial
for the well-being of European citizens and the economy. Increasing energy production
in the EU includes further deployment of renewable energies. In this context the appeal of
Agro-Energy has increased: Agro-Energy is an alternative energy source which guarantees
maximum energy security while at the same time having a less disruptive environmental
impact. Policies aimed at providing incentives for Agro-Energy crops combined with the lack
of foresight of the European legislature in defining the contents of the medium-term CAP
reform have implied a considerable shrinking of other crops directly or indirectly used as
food. Growing crops for bioenergy or biofuels is increasingly viewed as conflicting with food
production. Balancing the needs of eco-compatible energetic production of agricultural origin
with the need to safeguard the basic rights of food is indispensable. The new CAP tries
to take that into account. Even if today the primary sector is also expected to diversify energy
supply sources, it is necessary, however, to ensure that the increased attention given to
Agro-Energy issues does not imply a decrease in attention to what is known as food security.
