Competitiveness of the European Agrofood Industry

WHY this European Union conference in Sweden?

The European agro-food industry, as a major global player, is currently facing deep economic, technological and regulatory changes, including:

1) The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is increasingly directed towards farm producers while price market support schemes are progressively dismantled;

2) The economic growth of emerging countries results in an increased demand for food products. Problems in access to raw materials for the food industry may therefore arise.

3) Due to its fragmented structure, the European food industry is often in a weak negotiating position vis-à-vis the retail sector;

4) Consumer preferences are focusing more and more on quality (sound and tasty foods) including ethical aspects (e.g. fair trade, sustainable food production, animal welfare) and a healthier diet.

This is the framework in which the EU is currently negotiating with several countries in the world with a view to improve market access and to develop international trade.

These negotiations have potentially far reaching consequences for the competitive positioning of the Swedish agro-food industry. Sweden is a highly trade dependant country. Today, nearly half of the consumed agro-food goods in Sweden is produced abroad and imported, while one fourth is exported. The trade balance deficit remains significant, despite a continuous, but slow improvement. The share of trade with countries outside EU is higher in Sweden than in most other EU member states.

These issues have also been considered in the context of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry, which had a broader view of trade related aspects in the European Union and their impact on the competitiveness of the European Agro-Food Industry. The High Level Group recently adopted its report and 30 recommendations aiming to set out a “forward looking and holistic” approach for the competitiveness of the European food industry and covering also the European trade policy.

In this context, the forthcoming Agro-food Conference in Malmö will address specific issues and challenges for the Swedish agro-food industry arising in the context of this changing world, as well as the responses provided by European policies and instruments.

WHY is it worth attending this conference?

The Conference primarily addresses Swedish agro-food producing companies, particularly SMEs. Participation in the Conference will bring the following benefits :

• An update on bilateral agreements under discussion and their potential implications for trade and competitiveness;

• Networking and sharing experiences with selected “best case” examples from Sweden and from abroad ;

• An update on EU policies’ (re)design and benefits from EU and national instruments;

• The opportunity to voice concerns and expectations vis-à-vis the European Commission and the National Government delegations.

WHY particularly SME's?

SMEs represent 99% of the total number of food companies in Europe and employ more than 4 million people, hence their well-being and dynamism are essential to the whole sector. Nevertheless, their specific concerns and constraints are too often overshadowed by large companies and the retail sector. Their small size prevents them from fully capturing the value they generate. Also, they often lack adequate information on available support instruments and resources.

This conference will be an opportunity for SMEs to improve their awareness as regards the need for innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the value of European instruments; moreover, it will be an excellent opportunity for the European Commission to better understand SMEs' concerns and expectations.

Issues and challenges

Main specific issues of current interest to be addressed in this conference are: 

- Update on new bilateral trade agreements and their implications ;

- Opportunities created by the new positioning of Sweden as “the new culinary nation”;

- The importance of quality aspects – Increased focus in Brussels;

- The impact of price volatility on the access of raw materials, and possible solutions.

 

This website is financed under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) which aims to encourage the competitiveness of European enterprises.