The food and drink industry has a key role to play in moving towards a greater and more sustainable use of renewable resources, not least because the sector’s raw materials are grown in the natural environment. As such, the food industry welcomes the recognition in the Commission’s latest Communication of its role in responding to global challenges such as human health and the needs of an ageing population; mitigating the effects of climate change and helping to preserve natural resources; ensuring the highest standards of food safety as well as food security in Europe.

In particular, food manufacturers welcome the three aspects identified in the strategy, and will continue to work with stakeholders (via the European Technology Platform (ETP) Food for Life, for example) to encourage innovative technologies and processes for Europe’s bioeconomy. As Europe’s first manufacturing industry, accounting for over 310,000 companies (99.1% of which are SMEs) and employing over 4 million people directly, FoodDrinkEurope would like to see an environment in which the sector can flourish; an environment conducive to creating jobs and opportunities in these difficult economic times.

Speaking following the publication, Jesús Serafín Pérez, President of FoodDrinkEurope, said: “FoodDrinkEurope welcomes the Commission’s Communication ‘Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe’ and now looks to the EU’s institutions to help make this Communication a reality. The industry welcomes the recognition that it has a big role to play in the move towards a more innovative and low-emissions economy.”

Encouraging innovation is central to bolstering the competitiveness of Europe’s food industry both at home and worldwide. The current EU framework creates a number of bottlenecks to innovation for food operators, for example, lengthy lead-times for companies seeking to bring new products and processes to market for Europe’s 500 million consumers, which, in turn hinders investment in R&D by manufacturers.

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For further information:

Lisa McCooey, Deputy Director General/Director of Communications

Tel.: +32 2 514 11 11, Mob.: +32 476 911 300, l.mccooey@fooddrinkeurope.eu

FoodDrinkEurope’s mission is to represent the food and drink industries of the EU – the largest manufacturing sector in the EU in terms of turnover and employment. FoodDrinkEurope works with European and international institutions, in order to contribute to the development of a legislative and economic framework addressing the competitiveness of industry, food quality and safety, consumer protection and respect for the environment. FoodDrinkEurope's membership consists of 25 national federations, including 3 observers, 26 European sector associations and 18 major food and drink companies. For more information on FoodDrinkEurope and its activities, please visit: www.fooddrinkeurope.eu