Promotion of agricultural products

On 16 December, the European Commission adopted its Annual Work Programme for 2023 on the promotion of agricultural products. EUR 185.9 million will be available for the promotion of European agri-food products, with a focus on sustainable agriculture. The Commission will also organise communication campaigns in non-EU countries, featuring an EU pavilion in major agri-food trade fairs, business delegation visits and seminars. The Programme aligns with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Info Days will take place on 1 February from 13.30 to 17.00 and on 2 February from 8.30 to 14.00. These will be hybrid events taking place online, as well as onsite at the Albert Borschette Congress Center, Rue Froissart 36, Brussels. They will include presentations and detailed specific technical briefings on the 2023 Call for proposals for interested stakeholders. Please keep an eye on our Event webpage for updates.

On 15-17 January 2023, the EU will promote the safety, quality, authenticity and sustainability of EU agri-food produce at the WFFS fair in Las Vegas. The EU pavilion will offer an immersive experience, showcasing a wide variety of EU agricultural food and beverage products. This will take place through interactive sessions such as live cooking shows, product oriented sessions, and tastings with renowned European and U.S. chefs.

Christmas time can be a celebration of gastronomical excellence in produce. Our special Christmas article features among others two Promotion of agricultural products’ projects: EuroFoodArt, which seeks to enhance the competitiveness and consumption of agricultural products registered under the EU’s certification schemes PDO and PGI. The project aims to raise the products’ profiles and increase their market share in France, Belgium and Italy. Similarly, the METROFOOD-PP project looks at providing high-quality services in support of the agri-food sector with specific reference to food quality, safety, traceability and sustainability.

A Trip to Europe in Every Bite campaign was hosted by the EU Delegation in Mexico, with the presence of a Mexican chef and a sommelier. A group of 22 representatives from the business sector learned more about wines, consumption trends and the benefits of establishing business relationships with European companies. The event inspired participants to consume, sell and import EU products.

Four videos from the press trip “A Trip to Europe in Every bite” to Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have now been published on the EU Food and Farming Youtube channel. The videos show how EU fruits, vegetables, meat, wine and beer are produced, respecting the highest safety, quality and sustainability standards to ensure the products’ authentic character.

A special Seminar on EU standards for agri-food products for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries took place on 13-14 December 2022 in Dubai. This interactive event provided GCC authorities and food and beverage industry professionals with insights on the benefits of sustainable and organic food and drink from Europe. It offered networking opportunities, along with a live cooking show, presentations and roundtable discussions with expert speakers.

This month, the ‘EU Caravan’ foodtruck featured at EXPO 2020 in Dubai saw a return. It offered daily tasting sessions and cooking classes with Greek Chef Andrea Theoni Karidisover. Visitors were treated to delicious recipes, such as Halibut with sweet biscuit crust and Danablu (PGI) sauce or grilled Graviera Naxou (PDO) and Provolone Valpadana (PDO) cheeses.

As region of honour, the European Union Pavilion offered an immersive experience around the quality, safety, authenticity and sustainability of European food and beverage products during FHV Vietnam from 7 to 9 December. Tasting sessions attracted over 7,500 business professionals, eager to try the 234 different products from 27 EU Member States. Eight cooking and product-oriented workshops on EU olive oil, charcuterie boards, cheese and wine, as well as one on spirit drinks, attracted on average 30 visitors per show.