Research is expected to address immediate problems while at the same time anticipating future needs. Today’s research will guide tomorrow’s solutions and approaches in farming and forestry. Incorporating research and innovation activities into a long-term strategy will make it easier to identify strategic areas of short-, medium- and long-term interest, and thereby improve their overall consistency, sequencing and impact. By laying down strategic priorities for agricultural and forestry research in the EU it will be possible to reinforce synergies with Member States and non-EU research programmes.