Brussels, Belgium – 18 Sep. 2024. AVEC, the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU, held its 66th General Assembly last week, organised by VIP-België vzw in Bruges, with the participation of 200 attendees. Against a backdrop marked by Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations and the controversial Mercosur agreement, this year’s conference, held under the theme “The Importance of Trade in a Changing World”, focused on the growing complexities of global trade facing the European poultry sector.
High-level speakers and experts offered valuable insights into the future of the sector and broader agricultural policy trends, addressing critical issues such as the evolving landscape of animal welfare, the importance of regulatory reciprocity in trade agreements, and the pressing need for a more robust European approach to trade and food security. In the face of these challenges, AVEC’s message is clear: the EU must prioritise the strategic role of food production and protect the European poultry sector from unfair competition.
Strategic importance of food security
“Food and agricultural production plays a strategic role in the new geopolitical context as an essential component of European security, and we must ensure its resilience in the face of global challenges”, declared Gert Jan Oplaat, President of AVEC, citing the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture during the opening of the assembly. “In a world full of conflict and uncertainty, food has become an unparalleled asset, a ‘strategic weapon’ that the EU must wield wisely”, Oplaat stressed. “To this end, EU poultry production is essential to maintaining self-sufficiency in the EU and securing our food supply”, he concluded.
Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director-General for Trade at the European Commission, reaffirmed the fundamental role of trade in defending European interests in the new geopolitical reality. “It is important that production capacity exists within the EU, not only for the internal market, but also for third countries”, he highlighted.
In his presentation, Professor Rob de Wijk of Leiden University outlined the complexities of the global food system, noting that it is built on intricate interdependencies that are progressively at risk. “Protectionism, unilateralism and economic warfare are now threatening the global food system”, he warned, adding that the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is unlikely to be achieved. “Food security is not merely an agricultural issue, but a crucial geopolitical concern. We simply cannot reduce production in a sector if we want autonomy”, De Wijk emphasised.
Ensuring fair trade for the EU poultry sector
Nan-Dirk Mulder of Rabobank International provided a perspective on the global and European poultry sectors, highlighting the growing worldwide demand for poultry meat: “Global demand for animal protein is expected to increase by 14% over the next 10 years. Demand for poultry meat is forecast to grow by 22% due to its lower price, cultural preferences, and greater sustainability in production”.
“Our sector operates under the world’s highest standards in animal welfare, biosecurity and sustainability, yet we face competition from third countries with far lower requirements”, stated Birthe Steenberg, Secretary General of AVEC. The association reaffirmed the EU poultry sector’s commitment to sustainable, innovative and transparent production, delivering high-quality and affordable poultry meat in line with consumer expectations. However, “without reciprocity in trade agreements and clear origin labelling (in the foodservice/HORECA sector and processed products), European poultry producers will be unable to compete with external markets that do not meet the same rigorous standards”, Steenberg declared.
EU policymakers must be consistent
Looking ahead to the new 2024–2029 European legislative mandate, AVEC declares its support for the recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture, which advocate for greater coherence between the Commission’s trade and sustainability policies, reviewing the current approach in agriculture and agri-food negotiations, recognising the strategic relevance of agricultural and food products in trade negotiations, and demonstrating stronger leadership in reforming the global trade policy framework.
The association calls for a greater focus on cooperation and robust policy decisions going forward, grounded in reciprocity in trade agreements that reflect the EU’s high standards and support European producers. “The EU poultry sector is a critical part of Europe’s food self-sufficiency. We urge policymakers to defend it against unfair competition and to ensure that the EU remains a global leader in sustainable food production”, concluded AVEC President Gert-Jan Oplaat.
Publication of the AVEC Annual Report 2024
Coinciding with the General Assembly, AVEC published its 2024 Annual Report, offering a comprehensive overview of the European poultry sector’s priorities, challenges and achievements over the past year. The report also outlines the association’s strategic objectives for the future.
For more information:
-. Summary of the AVEC 2024 Report