14 October 2020
Primary Food Processors (PFP) hosted its 2020 Online Forum under the theme “Climate Change: Impacts on Primary Food Sectors and Ways Towards Carbon Neutrality”, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives and sustainability experts to discuss the environmental challenges facing Europe’s primary food processing industries.
The event was hosted by Norbert Lins MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, at a time when the European Union was increasing its climate ambitions and accelerating efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
PFP highlighted the growing need to better understand how climate change affects agricultural production, food processing operations and the wider agri food value chain. The organisation stressed that greater awareness and improved knowledge are essential to help primary food processors adapt to future environmental and economic challenges.
The forum explored the relationship between climate policy, industrial competitiveness and food security, examining how Europe’s primary food processing industries can contribute to climate objectives while maintaining reliable food production and resilient supply chains.
Participants discussed the opportunities and barriers associated with industrial decarbonisation, including the role of technological innovation, infrastructure development, renewable energy solutions and long term policy support.
Industry representatives also highlighted the importance of understanding the impacts of climate change on agricultural raw material supply chains, particularly for arable farming and other sectors that provide the raw materials used by primary food processors.
The programme included presentations on the perspective of the primary food processing industry, opportunities and challenges associated with industrial decarbonisation, and the potential effects of climate change on agricultural commodity supply chains.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in a discussion addressing future climate policy, industrial competitiveness, food production resilience and the transition towards a lower carbon economy.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to contributing constructively to Europe’s climate objectives while ensuring that food security, economic sustainability and industrial competitiveness remain central elements of the transition.
PFP members process approximately 220 million tonnes of agricultural raw materials annually and employ more than 120,000 people across the European Union.
