Brussels, 20 July 2022
Copa Cogeca, Primary Food Processors (PFP) and FoodDrinkEurope welcomed the European Commission’s “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” communication and called on Member States to recognise the agri food chain as a critical sector during any future gas rationing measures.
The organisations stressed that secure and uninterrupted gas supplies are essential for maintaining food and feed production, protecting food security and ensuring the continued operation of Europe’s agri food supply chains during the ongoing energy crisis.
The organisations welcomed the Commission’s recommendation that Member States classify the agri food chain as a critical sector within national emergency planning frameworks. According to the statement, this recognition reflects the sector’s central role in maintaining the availability of food, feed and agricultural products throughout Europe.
Food and feed manufacturing systems rely heavily on stable gas supplies. Interruptions could significantly reduce production capacity, disrupt processing operations, affect agricultural commodity markets and create additional pressure on food affordability for consumers.
The organisations highlighted that Europe’s agri food industries were already facing substantial economic pressures, including rising electricity prices, natural gas cost inflation, fertiliser price increases, higher transport costs and growing labour expenses. Additional gas supply restrictions would further increase these challenges.
Pekka Pesonen of Copa Cogeca warned that rising input costs were already having severe consequences for farmers and agricultural operators. PFP President Huub Scheres noted that many primary food processing facilities depend heavily on natural gas and that rationing measures could force production sites to reduce or suspend operations. FoodDrinkEurope Director General Dirk Jacobs also stressed that food manufacturing processes cannot operate efficiently under repeated stop and go production interruptions.
The organisations called on Member States to prioritise the agri food sector when allocating gas supplies during emergency situations. They recommended that food and feed production facilities receive priority treatment immediately after households and hospitals to ensure continuity of essential food production activities.
According to the statement, protecting gas supplies for the agri food sector is necessary not only to maintain industrial operations but also to safeguard food availability, food affordability and the resilience of Europe’s agricultural supply chains.
Copa Cogeca, PFP and FoodDrinkEurope reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining reliable food supplies across Europe and pledged continued cooperation with European institutions throughout the energy crisis.
PFP members process approximately 220 million tonnes of raw materials and employ more than 120,000 people across the European Union.
