It’s time for Europe to get serious about the future of its food and drink sector

As you travel across Europe this summer, take a moment to savour the incredible variety of food and drink that our continent offers. Whether you enjoy some tasty Camembert cheese in a market square in Provence, sip on your after-meal ouzo on one of the Greek islands, or browse a random supermarket in Sweden for your evening meal, you'll find products from all over Europe, allowing you to recognise and appreciate the continent's culinary diversity and excellence.?

However, this abundance is not a given; it is the result of a robust European food and drink supply chain, with a central role for the food and drink manufacturing sector. It's time we acknowledge the challenges ahead and commit to safeguarding the future of this vital industry for the EU.

Over the past five years, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges - from a global pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the escalating climate crisis. Even in crisis times, our food and drink sector has kept delivering, providing the very best food and drink that Europe has to offer.???

But sustaining this success isn't easy and should not be taken for granted.?

Europe's food and drink industry is a major and critical part of our socio-economic fabric. With 291,000 manufacturers—99% of which are SMEs—the sector provides 4.6 million jobs and generates over €230 billion in value-added, making it the largest manufacturing industry in the EU and the largest exporter of food and drinks in the world.??

Yet, European food and drink production is increasingly vulnerable to external shocks. In addition, a recent survey of 131 industry CEOs reveals a troubling trend: the majority see business conditions deteriorating in Europe.?

The time for change is now: introducing the EU Food Investment and Resilience Plan

To maintain our excellence, EU and national policymakers must invest seriously in our food chain. With proper investment and regulatory support, Europe can achieve its food sustainability ambitions, boost competitiveness, and ensure long-term resilience and security.?

At FoodDrinkEurope, we’re calling on policymakers to deliver a comprehensive EU Food Investment and Resilience Plan, composed of five key elements:?

1. Stimulate Investment: We need to bridge the financing gap through public and private investment. Leveraging the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other funding mechanisms to support sustainable practices is crucial.?
2. Support Innovation: Innovation is equally essential if we want to lead in sustainable food systems. We must accelerate the development, market entry and upscaling of new food products, processes and projects, enhance risk assessments, and get more out of public-private partnerships.?
3. Boost Trade and Secure Supply: To remain competitive globally, we must create new market opportunities, remove trade obstacles and ensure stable access to global supplies.?
4. Build Better Regulation: Simplifying and harmonising regulations, conducting gap analyses of new laws, and streamlining existing legislation will help our businesses thrive, get a better foothold in a global competitive market space.?
5. Improve Governance and Coordination: Recognising the strategic importance of our sector is key, not the least for crisis preparedness. More co-creation and appointing an Executive Vice-President for Food in the European Commission will ensure better, more cohesive policy development in agri-food.?

Securing our Food Future?

European policymakers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the food and drink industry. By adopting FoodDrinkEurope’s plan, we can ensure that Europe’s food and drink makers stay competitive, sustainable, and resilient. Integrating this plan into the legislative policy agenda is crucial to safeguard Europe’s food systems and secure a prosperous food future for all.?

Of course, it’s not just policymakers who have a role to play. The EU food and drink industry itself continues to make progress towards achieving more sustainable food systems, not just in day-to-day operations but over the longer-term horizon too. We’ve laid out our ambitions and actions in our Action Plan for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems - with 15 core commitments to drive change in our food systems, from sustainable packaging, to climate action, and better nutrition.?

By working together, we can secure the future of a competitive Europe’s food and drink industry, ensuring it remains a global leader in quality, safety, innovation, and sustainability while steadily contributing to food security. It’s time for all of us to step up to the plate and invest in the future of our food.?