EP - Infrastructure, Logistics, and Food Security in Europe

EP - Infrastructure, Logistics, and Food Security in Europe

2025-06-25T13:00:00+00:00

2025-06-25T15:00:00+00:00

https://www.expert-europe.eu//medias/image/thumbnail_7704987936855c69e29508.png

In its ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ the Commission has reinforced its commitment to delivering food security and sovereignty in Europe. The recent geopolitical, economic and health crises have shown that we cannot take access to affordable and nutritious food for granted, especially in times of crisis. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we have experienced the fundamental strengths of our food supply chain but have also been made more conscious of its vulnerabilities.The food supply chain is made up of multiple interdependent actors. Yet, most policy discussions tend to centre on the food production and retailing issues that occur at the start and end of the supply chain. In this roundtable, we will focus on the middle, specifically the interconnected infrastructure and transportation fleets on which the system relies.In 2024, a coalition of representatives set out its ‘Call to Action.’ It states that businesses across Europe are able and ready to play their crucial role in delivering food security. It also challenges policymakers to consider how they can support businesses in providing the resilience necessary to achieve the broader goals. This document provides a foundation for our roundtable discussion.PurposeParticipants are asked to provide insight on how European Institutions and the business sector can collaborate to ensure that Europeans benefit from the food supply chain infrastructure they need. The output of the discussion will be summarised in a report and policy recommendations that will be widely distributed.FormatIntroduction from host MEP Adrian-George AXINIAFacilitator introduction – Shane Brennan (GCCA) and Christine Weiker (ECSLA)Key speaker: MEP Daniel BUDA, Vice-Chair, Committee on Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentRoundtable – facilitators invite comments from all the roundtable participants, from the European Institutions and GCCA’s representative, on the topics in turnNetworking reception at the EPInvitation OnlyInvitees to include:Commission and MEP inviteesSenior Representatives of the European and national associationsRepresentatives of invited European Trade Associations or representative groupsFor details contact – Iolanda Badilita at EP iolanda.badilita@europarl.europa.eu, Shane Brennan or Julie Hanson at GCCA sbrennan@gcca.org, jhanson@gcca.org or Christine Weiker at ECLSA c.weiker@ecsla.euDiscussionSupply Chain SecurityHow secure is the European supply chain today?What visibility do we have of the resilience in our storage and transportation infrastructure to withstand shocks and supply chain interruptions?What incentives are in place to ensure that businesses invest in the security of their supply chain?What impact will the increasing volatility of global trading relations have on European food security? And how should Europe respond?Energy SecurityWhat are the lessons of the energy crisis of 2022-23 for the food supply chain?How do we ensure that facilities across the food supply chain are considered critical infrastructure, especially during times of shortage?What can supply chain businesses do to improve their resilience to interruptions in energy supply and price spikes?How can cold chain businesses be supported in investing in renewable energy?To what extent can the drive to decarbonise European energy be achieved without undermining food security?PeopleDo we have access to the people we need to run all stages of the food supply chain?To what extent will automation and artificial intelligence change careers and labour force needs across the cold chain?

https://www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/ep-infrastructure-logistics-and-food-security-in-europe/2025/06/25/190