Leading EU farming, food, and retail associations have called for the agri-food chain to be formally recognised as critical infrastructure. The initiative aims to secure priority access to energy and key inputs at affordable and competitive prices.
The call was made by CEJA, Copa-Cogeca, CELCAA, FoodDrinkEurope and EuroCommerce.
The move is driven by growing instability in the Middle East, which is increasing volatility in energy, logistics, and input markets that are critical to Europe’s food production and distribution systems.
According to the associations, costs across the entire value chain are already rising, including energy, fertilizers, transport, packaging, and agricultural raw materials. This creates risks of further food price increases and reduced affordability for consumers.
Market participants are calling on EU institutions and national governments to ensure farmers, processors, traders, retailers, and wholesalers have secure and predictable access to energy and key inputs.
At the same time, they stress the need for targeted, temporary, and EU-coordinated support measures for the most vulnerable actors in the agri-food sector.
Overall, the industry is seeking additional safeguards amid growing global uncertainty to maintain uninterrupted food supply and contain price increases.
PigUA.info, based on materials from thepigsite.com