FoodDrinkEurope’s views on productivity & sustainability Mella Frewen, FoodDrinkEurope

Director General

10 November 2011

At a glance - The EU Food and Drink Industry

Sustainability – At the heart of our business

• The EU food industry purchases 70% of EU agricultural produce

• The EU food industry is the largest agricultural importer in the world

• The industry needs a stable supply of high quality raw materials

The Food Supply Challenge & Opportunity

• “Climate change, high-and-volatile food and energy prices, population and income growth will put intense pressure on land and water and challenge global food security as never before.”

Mark Rosegrant, Director of environment and production technology at the International Food Policy Research Institute

Example: Water shortage => Food shortage

• Natural resources are essential to food production.

• Environmental sustainability => security of supply

Challenges & Opportunities: Reducing Waste

• EU annual food waste estimated at 89 million tonnes*, of which 43% from households and 39% from manufacturing (Eurostat, 2006)

• Manufacturing food waste is largely inedible (e.g. bones, organs, shells)

• Can be diverted from landfill via industrial symbiosis and use of by-products/co-products - 85 million tonnes of by-products used annually for animal feed)

European Food Sustainable Consumption & Production Round Table

Sustainable confusion?

The Round Table approach: Cooperation across the whole food chain

Relationship with ECPA

• FoodDrinkEurope is a member of the Food Chain Roundtable on Plant Protection:

– Acts as an informal platform for food chain partners to discuss and share issues relating to plant protection ensuring protection of human and animal health and the environment;

– Builds trust;

– Identifies common views and communication strategies.

• FoodDrinkEurope has an excellent working relationship with ECPA

Minor Uses

• The sustainable sourcing of high quality raw material is vital for both the EU economy and for securing the future of the European continent’s food supply; healthy affordable food for all consumers whilst safeguarding biodiversity.

• Awaiting Commission Report on the establishment of a European fund for minor uses:

– Such a fund should support the development of a stronger network and a solution finding forum for minor use problems e.g. American IR-4 Programme

• Re-establishment of an Advisory Group to assess the consequences of regulatory action