Food Industry: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Proposals Lack Ambition

Kuyk: “A sustainable and competitive EU agriculture has a key role to play in helping the food industry to produce more, from less and with less impact in order to help meet the twin challenges of food security and climate change."

Oct 13 2011 --- Speaking after the London launch of the European Commission's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposals, Andrew Kuyk, Director of Sustainability and Competitiveness at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said: “A sustainable and competitive EU agriculture has a key role to play in helping the food industry to produce more, from less and with less impact in order to help meet the twin challenges of food security and climate change."

“In that context, the proposals for Common Agricultural Policy reform announced by the European Commission today show a disappointing lack of ambition and represent a missed opportunity to balance the need for increased output with more protection for the natural resources on which future productive potential depends."

“This calls for a much more integrated approach to policy making looking at resource efficiency across the whole supply chain and at how the EU agriculture and manufacturing industries can contribute to delivering safe, sustainable, affordable and nutritious food as part of an open international trading system."