EU Vegetable Canners and Freezers concerned about economic conditions for their industry_25.04.2007
During their 5th Conference last Friday 20th April in Brussels, European Vegetable Processors discussed the challenges and concerns linked to the future of the industry’s raw material supply.
Against the background of a very difficult year 2006 - with weather extremes, minimal stocks and serious difficulties to contract - the conference’s panel discussion analysed the raw material structure and confirmed the larger context of the present difficult economic
conditions:
- Continuously high cereal prices
- Future supply shortages due to
- competition with cereals and subsidized biofuel crops
- changing climatic conditions,
Participants further raised concerns that the present reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for Fruit & Vegetables, which makes all vegetables areas eligible for the Single Farm Payment Scheme, may not provide for a level playing field and lead to differing economic conditions for vegetable farmers in the different EU countries.
The panel – consisting of representatives from the frozen sector, the canning sector, the EU Commission, the growers and an academic expert – predicted that raw material prices will continue to rise in the foreseeable future.
Europe’s canners and freezers of vegetables are seriously concerned about the potential impact of the raw material price trends and potential supply shortages on the industry’s competitiveness.
For the record, with 200 delegates from 13 different EU countries, the conference saw a record number of participants
