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.

The event will be followed by a cocktail reception.
Register Here

Programme

Tuesday 29 April 2025, 15:0017:00

Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Bruxelles 

Moderation by Natasha Foote

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