In November, the CIAA Congress 2010 in Brussels brought together a host of renowned speakers and moderators to discuss Europe’s food and drink industry’s vision for 2020, around the theme of ‘People, Planet, Partnership’.
There were four sessions over the two days, discussing the challenges and opportunities for a more competitive industry, through which it became clear that innovation is central to meeting the economic, social and environmental concerns of our time, making the industry more competitive.
The first session, ‘food for the future’, asked how the industry can innovate to meet the growing demand for food, producing more from less. Speakers stressed how we live in a changing world, with new challenges that require new responses and new technologies.
Science and science-based regulation have an important role to play in meeting these challenges. In particular, panellists called for a fresh look at biotechnology and GMOs, as well as ensuring emerging technologies, such as engineered nanoparticles, are given the support needed to realise them. It’s clear that these technologies are part of the toolkit for meeting the increasing demand for food in the future.
Finally, speakers underlined the need for partnership. We live in an interdependent world and need to work together to build acceptance around innovation and emerging technologies.
The second session, ‘health and well-being’, looked at how the industry is playing a leading role in addressing complex diet and lifestyle challenges while empowering consumers to make informed choices.
Again, innovation (for example, reformulation) was considered central to ensure consumers have a balanced diet and lead a healthy lifestyle, with science-based regulation needed to encourage this further (for example, health claims should be scientifically substantiated).
The industry was commended for its collaboration with its partners, for example through its work on the European Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and the European Technology Platform Food for Life, and industry representatives reiterated the fact that meeting its commitments isn’t a constraint but a catalyst for continued action.
Finally, industry and consumer organisations engaged in a lively debate over information to consumers, with panellists agreeing with Commissioner Dalli that, “I don’t want to tell people what to eat. I want to tell people what they’re eating.” Consumer education is important in bringing about behavioural change.
The third session, ‘planet and environmental sustainability’, explored how Europe’s food and drink industry is delivering continuous environmental improvements to its products and processes by working with its partners in the food chain, particularly through the European Food Sustainable Consumption and Production Round Table.
Panellists agreed on the need to ‘green the economy’, with industry representatives detailing how they’re doing more for the planet; sustainability makes good business sense. Again, it was clear that innovation can unlock new opportunities for more sustainable products and processes, with knowledge-based growth central to competitiveness.
The fourth session, ‘trust and partnership’, stressed the importance of industry in working with its partners in the food chain to tackle the challenges of people and the planet. The industry recognised the trust placed in its products and the need to continue to build confidence through its relations with key stakeholders. Panellists also stressed the need to maintain trust and transparency when it comes to scientific research, with regulation having a role to play in fostering this trust.
The Congress was complemented by an exciting exhibition space, demonstrating how industry is innovating to meet its commitments to ‘People, Planet, Partnership’.
Over the two days, the 500 delegates were able to approach the exhibitors, informing themselves about how all manufacturers, whatever their size, are working to meet social and environmental challenges while competing for sustainable growth, and how the industry’s partners are involved in this.
Closing the 2010 Congress, CIAA president, Jesús Serafín Pérez, said: “I’m delighted that CIAA’s 2010 Congress has brought together such distinguished guests in a spirit of partnership. Innovation is invaluable as we work with Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn and other stakeholders under the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative – ‘An Innovation Union’ – to realise our vision for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth for Europe’s industry in the next decade and beyond.”
Claire Rowan is managing editor of Food & Beverage International magazine. Subscribe here.
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