COVID-19 • Communication - Presse • Veille
#flashinfo, 18 juin : Food processing - a possible strategy for Central and Eastern Europe
Following the regional webinar organised on the 17th of June, discover the conclusions of the round table and replay the webinar !
Central and Eastern Europe represents a very important agricultural territory, which produces enough food to be food sustainable. The global sanitary crisis has shaken the system and raised logistical challenges. The rise of sustainable agriculture and the European guidelines (Green New Deal) will offer new perspectives.
What are the stakes of the food processing industry in the Central and Eastern Europe? What strategy for the food industry in the future?
Those were the topics of a round table composed of experts from the sector, dealing with main trends in food production and food processing in the region:
- Dominique SIGROS, Head of International Desk for Central & Eastern Europe in Austria, CA Group International Business Solutions
- Jakub OLIPRA, Macroeconomic Analysis Department CA Bank Polska
- Maxime BRIVOIS, General Manager ALEEGO RT
- Mary KENNY, Regional Initiative Delivery Manager on Agriculture Trade and Market Integration, FAO
- Marko MARIC, Executive Director Western Europe & Overseas, PODRAVKA Food Processing Industry Inc.
- Christophe RABATEL, CEO Carrefour Polska
- Dominique SIGROS, Head of International Desk for Central & Eastern Europe in Austria, CA Group International Business Solutions
The webinar has been supported by Credit Agricole Group and CACIB, which have a large experience in agricultural business and have dedicated teams in Central and Eastern Europe in order to foresee, analyse and publish the trends to support the industry.
Focus on :
Europe is self-sufficient in food, but its self-sufficiency is based on fragile mutual connections between the European countries. The extraordinary measures taken by the governments to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in breaking the food supply chains in Europe.
Farm production and food processing have not been impacted a lot by these measures. However, food distribution has faced numerous challenges, such as:
- Lower availability as well as higher costs for international transports
- Hight volatility of demand
- The closure of HoReCa channel
- Changes in customer behaviour.
What are the market expectations and the future opportunities?
The next months will see a gradual recovery of food industry in Europe linked to the ease in restrictions, the general increase in economic activities and reestablishment of food supply chains. Protectionist tendencies could appear in some countries.
The COVID-19 crisis has confirmed the ethical and healthy consumption: bio and local products consumption remain stable. On the contrary, during the crisis people tended to go mostly to the nearest local store instead of the big supermarket in the suburb. Therefore, some changes in consumer behaviours may be expected in the future. In a short term, more consumption at home, shopping online and with a scan. And in a long term, a decrease of purchasing power due to the economic crisis.
Majority of companies will change their strategies by securing their outlets and the supplies. Producers will face a challenge to have a profitable and sustainable agriculture at the same time. Pesticides could be replaced by organic treatments and the usage of satellite data and drones could change the way of farming.
Innovation and technology are the key to enforce the value chain and create the framework for sustainable and profitable agriculture, efficient go to market ecosystems, traceable and quality products.
European economy will gain from a stronger value chain and the European institution are a player in promoting policies and financing of a strongly integrated farm to fork ecosystem.
