Agriculture continues to play a vital role in both Europe and Asia, though its share of employment is declining as economies diversify. Globally, about 916 million people worked in agriculture in 2023, representing 26.1% of total employment. Asia accounts for the largest share, with hundreds of millions employed, while Europe has a much smaller proportion—around 8.7 million people in 2020, or 4.2% of EU employment. This highlights the stark contrast between the two regions in terms of agricultural workforce size. Europe's agricultural industry is supported heavily by France, as its main exports include wheat, rapeseed, rye, and triticale, earning the spot of the second-largest exporter of goods to the United States. China has started to expand its agricultural ventures to Europe, North America, and Oceania. ChemChina’s $43-billion acquisition of Syngenta, a Swiss farm chemical and seed company, Shuanghui International's purchase of U.S.-based Smithfield Foods, and China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation’s purchase of two major agricultural trading companies—Noble Agri and Nidera. Chinese companies have also acquired companies or formed joint ventures in New Zealand and Australia, focused on meeting China’s growing demand for dairy, beef, and lamb.

Europe:   France remains the agricultural powerhouse of the European Union, producing cereals such as wheat and barley, along with dairy, wine, and livestock. In 2023, France exported €81 billion worth of foodstuffs, making it the world’s sixth-largest food exporter. Its agricultural sector employs roughly 759,000 workers and is increasingly focused on digitalization, robotics, and sustainability, including ambitious targets such as halving pesticide use by 2025. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2023–2027 underpins this transformation, with a budget of €386.6 billion—€291.1 billion allocated for direct payments and market measures, and €95.5 billion for rural development. CAP’s objectives include ensuring fair farmer income, boosting competitiveness, strengthening food chain resilience, and advancing climate and biodiversity goals. New eco-schemes reward farmers for sustainable practices, with 25% of direct payments tied to environmental measures. However, Europe faces significant challenges, including climate change, extreme weather events, and animal disease outbreaks, which threaten production growth and require greater emphasis on carbon sequestration and wetland protection.

Asia:  Asia’s agricultural sector is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by urbanization, the adoption of technology, and growing sustainability concerns. While rice and wheat remain staple crops, diversification into high-value crops and livestock is accelerating. China and India still have large agricultural workforces, with agriculture accounting for 22.6% of jobs in China and 42.8% in India. The region is embracing digital tools, artificial intelligence, and precision farming to boost productivity and climate resilience. ASEAN initiatives include AI-driven food security strategies and digital marketplaces for farmers. Climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology, and improved supply chains are becoming priorities for reducing waste and adapting to environmental challenges. Food security remains critical, as ASEAN aims to become the world’s fourth-largest trade bloc by 2030, focusing on sustainable and resilient food systems to meet rising demand amid rapid urbanization. China’s global agricultural investments underscore the interconnected nature of food security. ChemChina’s $43 billion acquisition of Syngenta in remains the largest foreign takeover by a Chinese firm, securing advanced seed and pesticide technology. Other major deals include Shuanghui International’s purchase of Smithfield Foods in the U.S. and COFCO’s acquisitions of Noble Agri and Nidera, strengthening China’s control over global supply chains. Investments in New Zealand and Australia target dairy, beef, and lamb to meet China’s growing protein demand, reflecting the country’s strategic approach to securing food resources worldwide.