Understanding the contribution of the European feed industry in providing safe, sustainable, and competitive feed by giving value to former foodstuffs, which for various reasons cannot be sold as food for human consumption, was one of the key objectives of the 55th FEFAC Annual General Meeting, which took place last week, 15 June 2012, in Brussels.
Key policy and decision-makers from the European Commission, the European Food & Drink Federation, FDE, and the European feed industry, shared their perspective on the need to adapt the regulatory framework in order to allow the controlled and safe production, and use of feed materials from former foodstuffs in animal feed.
In the second discussion panel, FEFAC took stock of the current progress in the CAP reform debate at Council and European Parliament level. Key note speakers from DG AGRI, COCERAL representing grain and feed trade, and UECBV, representing the EU meat and livestock trade sector, discussed the impact of the proposed CAP reform measures on the competitiveness of the EU livestock sector.
FEFAC President, Patrick Vanden Avenne, invited experts from Member Associations, companies and stakeholder organisations to actively participate in the FEFAC Annual General Meeting highlighting that "the European feed industry is fully committed to support the competitiveness and sustainability of livestock production in the EU and at global level, thus contributing to global food security, pointing to the need for more proactive, flexible market management measures to maintain viability of EU feed supply".
Sustainable Feed Essential for Competitive Livestock
EU - The EU Agenda 2020 flagship initiative on Resource Efficiency is a key business driver for the European compound feed industry. Feed is the most important single factor for the sustainable development of livestock and aquaculture production. Feed conversion rates have improved by more than 30 per cent over the past 25 years, thus reducing considerably the ecological footprint of livestock production, says the European Compound Feed Manufacturers Federation (FEFAC).
