
2025 Primary Food Processors Forum
INVITATION
From Field to Market: Unlocking the Competitive Edge of Primary Food Processing
April 29th, 2025 | 15:00 to 17:00 hrs (CET) followed by a cocktail reception
Residence Palace, Brussels
Primary Food Processors are a vital link between agriculture and consumers. We transform agricultural raw materials into high-quality food ingredients, animal feed, and biobased products that support the EU bioeconomy. As key players in the EU’s food, feed, and industrial value chains, we help safeguard food security, strengthen sovereignty, drive innovation, and sustain rural economies.
However, primary food processing sectors face increasing global competition, price volatility, and the challenges of decarbonization. By keeping our competitiveness high on the EU agenda, we can ensure a robust, sustainable, and secure food supply chain for Europe.
Join us for a high-level discussion with policy makers and key stakeholders, moderated by Natasha Foote, on how to maintain the competitive edge of EU primary food processing and shape the future of this essential sector.
Programme
Tuesday 29 April 2025, 15:00–17:00
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Bruxelles Moderation by Natasha Foote |
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15:00 | Welcome
Emiel van Dijk, PFP President |
15:20 | Wageningen Research – Results on the PFP competitiveness study
Michiel Van Galen, Project Manager & Researcher and Virág Szijjártó, Researcher Sustainable & Innovative Value Chains, Wageningen Economic Research |
15:50 | Introductory Briefs from representatives of the European Commission
The competitiveness of primary food processing and the vision for Europe’s agri-food sector – Fabien Santini, Head of Unit Governance of the agri-food markets, DG AGRI How the EU is supporting industrial decarbonisation – Tom Howes, Adviser Green Transition and Market Regulation at the European Commission, DG ENER |
16:10 | Panel discussion
Patrick Pagani, Deputy Secretary General, COPA-COGECA Christophe Lescroart, Member of the PFP Board Tom Howes, Adviser Green Transition and Market Regulation DG ENER Fabien Santini, Head of Unit Governance of the agri-food markets, DG AGRI Q&A with audience |
17:00 | Conclusions by the moderator |
17:05 | Cocktail reception |