Abstract
Three main trends in the EU food sector are discussed in this chapter: changing consumer preferences, the continuing focus on food safety and the adoption of digital technologies in the food supply chain. Next, the chapter discusses the main policy developments that will continue to affect the competitiveness of the EU food sector. The focus in this section will be on the EU’s regional trade agreements and the prominent role that trade in agricultural and food products takes in the negotiations. A second major policy domain that is discussed relates to innovations in the food sector. The last section gives attention to the concept of the circular economy and the EU’s focus on preventing food waste as part of its circular economy package.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Under EU regulations , any food that was not consumed “significantly” [in the EU, ed.] prior to May 1997 is considered to be a novel food. The category covers new foods, food from new sources, new substances used in food as well as new ways and technologies for producing food (EFSA 2019).
References
Baldwin, R., and C. Wyplosz. 2012. The Economics of European Integration. London: McGraw-Hill. 560 p.
Copenhagen Economics. 2016. Impacts of EU Trade Agreements on the Agricultural Sector. Brussels: Published by the European Commission. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/external-studies/2016-bilateral-trade-agreements/final-report_en.pdf
ECSIP Consortium. 2016. The Competitive Position of the European Food and Drink Industry. Brussels: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/study-competitive-position-european-food-and-drink-industry-0_en
EFSA. 2019. Novel Food. Available online: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/novel-food
Environmental Leader. 2018. Global Food Companies Test IBM’s Blockchain System for Traceability. Available online: https://www.environmentalleader.com/2018/08/global-food-companies-blockchain/
European Commission. 2017. EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement. Factsheet. Brussels: European Commission, DG Trade. Available online: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017/december/tradoc_156465.pdf
———. 2018. Report on Implementation of EU Free Trade Agreements. 1 January 2017–31 December 2017. Brussels: European Commission. Available online: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2018/october/tradoc_157468.pdf
———. 2019. Circular Economy. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/sustainability/circular-economy_en
FoodDrinkEurope. 2016. A Competitive EU Food and Drink Industry for Growth and Jobs. Ambitions for 2025. Priorities and Policy Recommendations. Brussels: FoodDrinkEurope. Available online: https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/uploads/publications_documents/Competitive_food_industry_growth_jobs_report.pdf
———. 2018. Data & Trends of the European Food and Drink Industry 2018. Brussels: FoodDrinkEurope. Available online: https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/publication/data-trends-of-the-european-food-and-drink-industry-2018/
Forbes. 2018. What Can Blockchain Really Do for the Food Industry? Available online: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennysplitter/2018/09/30/what-can-blockchain-really-do-for-the-food-industry/#6e2b8e5f488e
IFT. 2019. The Potential of Blockchain Technology Application in the Food System. Available online: http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center/Learn-About-Food-Science/Food-Facts/The-Potential-of-Blockchain-Technology-Application.aspx
PBL (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency). 2017. Food for the Circular Economy. PBL Policy Brief. PBL, The Hague. Available online: https://www.pbl.nl/sites/default/files/cms/publicaties/PBL-2017-Food-for-the-circular-economy-2878.pdf
PlanetRetail. 2014. European Grocery Retailing. Change Is the Only Constant. Available online: https://www.planetretail.net/presentations/ApexBrasilPresentation.pdf
RSM. 2019. Top 2019 Trends for Food and Beverage Industry Businesses. From Product Innovation to Transparency, What’s Happening in Food? Online available: https://rsmus.com/what-we-do/industries/consumer-products/food-and-beverage/top-trends-for-food-and-beverage-industry-businesses.html
SCM (Supply Chain Magazine). 2017. Blockchain moet transparantie in keten voedingsindustrie vergroten. Available online: https://www.supplychainmagazine.nl/blockchain-moet-transparantie-keten-voedingsindustrie-vergroten/
Stenmarck, A., C. Jensen, T. Quested, and G. Moates 2016. Estimates of European Food Waste Levels. Brussels: Published by the European Commission. Available online: http://www.eu-fusions.org/phocadownload/Publications/Estimates%20of%20European%20food%20waste%20levels.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dries, L. (2019). Future Developments in the EU Food Sector. In: Dries, L., Heijman, W., Jongeneel, R., Purnhagen, K., Wesseler, J. (eds) EU Bioeconomy Economics and Policies: Volume II. Palgrave Advances in Bioeconomy: Economics and Policies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28642-2_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28642-2_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28641-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28642-2
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)