FEDIOL brought high level policymakers and representatives of the agri-food supply chain together at its annual event held on 12 June 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, under the theme: Enhancing industry’s competitive edge.

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of Portugal, Jose Manuel Fernandes, in his keynote address shared a strong vision and path for Europe’s agri-food sector: “Europe has all the conditions needed to lead. The challenge is to ensure that competitiveness, resilience and sustainability advance together as the pillars of a strong agri-food sector that is prepared for the future. By promoting research and innovation, strengthening value chains, and ensuring a level playing field, we will build a future that combines economic prosperity with environmental progress.” In this regard, José Manuel Fernandes stated that “the next European Competitiveness Fund, worth €400 billion for the 2028–2034 period, must support water resilience”.

The panel discussion focussing on agricultural commodities and the supply side, illustrated how regulatory shift and administrative complexities undermine competitiveness across the chain, challenge the productive capacity and weaken agri-food sectors. Regulatory Omnibuses, but also the outlook of a future-proof NGT framework were taken as examples of policy adjustments responding to the need for simplifications or for a more conducive regulatory framework.

MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP/Portugal) underlined that strategic autonomy required circularity together with predictable policies regulating the use of by-products. As a significant example, Mr Cabral alluded to the Delegated Act on Indirect Land Use Change for soy, currently facing a Motion for Objection. Mr Cabral underlined that simplification was not an attempt to deregulate and further stated: “We first need to have EU policies to be subject to coherence checks when designed by different DGs. Second, if the objective is strategic autonomy, we need to support the understanding of the implications for the sectors by systematic impact assessments. Third, we need a more comprehensive food systems approach,” Mr Cabral concluded.

Ms Susana Pombo, Director General of the Food and Veterinary Directorate General of Portugal, referring to the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, reminded participants that her country was accepting the compromise of a science-based and risk-based approach and did not believe in a zero tolerance without a prior impact assessment. “The impact of MRL reviews will have to be understood and judged on a case-by-case basis.” She also added that “food and feed safety remains the foundation of consumer confidence in the market and in the image the EU has in the world”.

FEDIOL President, Christophe Beaunoir reminded participants that the EU crushers and refiners were processing about 40 million tonnes of oilseeds, and that EU production being faced with a plateau was a challenge to be addressed. Mr Beaunoir went on to put forward NGTs as an opportunity, not only to improve the crops composition and its resistance to pests, but also the efficiency of the plant to maximize certain inputs, such as nitrogen. “Today, we can reduce carbon intensity through agricultural practices as we reach a 62% GHG emissions’ reduction. The use of crops in renewable energy is the only lever to show positive impact and reward efforts at farm level”.

The panel discussion on markets and value chains looked at downstream markets with eminent stakeholder representatives across the different food, feed, biomaterial and energy supply chains. Discussions delved into bioeconomy strategy, food assessment systems, EUDR, biofuels fraud and environmental footprint for feed. Speakers converged on several points that were impeding the EU competitiveness: complicated EU regulatory framework, lack of coherence between policies managed by different services, and some EU policies driven more by ideology than by science. Policy should be based on science, ensure coherence between policy objectives and help create a level playing field between biobased and fossil products.

The event programme can be found here. 

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Note to editors:

FEDIOL, the EU vegetable oil and proteinmeal industry association, represents the interests of the European oilseed crushers, vegetable oil refiners and bottlers. FEDIOL members are 10 national associations and associated company members in 7 other EU countries.

With about 180 facilities in Europe, the sector provides 20,000 direct employments. Its members process approximately 60 million tonnes of raw materials a year, both of EU origin and imported from third country markets. The sector crushes oilseeds, notably rapeseed, sunflower seed, soybeans and linseed into oils and meals and refines those crude oils from crushing and crude tropical oils, notably palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil. The meals and the crude and refined oils are sold for food, feed, technical and energy uses essentially on the European market.

More information can be found on the FEDIOL website.

Contacts: Nathalie Lecocq, FEDIOL Director General: + 32 (2) 771 53 30