Europe’s food and drink industry needs to focus on innovation while ensuring that science remains at the heart of business and regulation, according to panel of experts at the FoodDrinkEurope Congress.
Moderated by broadcaster David Eades, the first session of the biennial event, entitled ‘Driving Sustainable Economic Recovery’ focused on the current challenges and global trends affecting Europe’s food and drink sector, looking at the needs of the industry and possibilities to stimulate exports and drive the competitiveness of Europe’s leading manufacturing sector, especially for SMEs.
Minister counsellor on food and agriculture for the US Mission to the EU Maurice House said: “In an era of globalisation, Europe is in danger of becoming a food museum. Europe’s food industry clearly needs standards based on science and not on culture alone because the latter are not standards, simply preferences. This is particularly true in a world where Europe will no longer be the sole global standard setter.”
Frans Egberts (MD, Henri van de Bilt Vleeswaren) stated: “The industry needs to be more transparent and open so that it can build trust with consumers. If Europe is to export more, it will have to focus on high quality products since emerging economies can provide lower quality products for themselves.”
Wayne Jones (head, Agro-Food Trade and Market Division, OECD) stressed that with a growing world population and incomes rising in emerging countries, we are on the brink of great growth opportunities for our food and drink industries. Europe’s export growth has a tremendous track record but Europe lacks optimism.
FoodBev’s Claire Rowan is attending the congress and will be Tweeting form the event.
Source: FoodDrinkEurope
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