European food chain conference

A two day conference which will look into various problems presented by the European food chain is to take place in Brussels, 5-6 November.

Called the European Food Supply Chains '03 and organised by the Ethical Corporation, the conference will look closely at a spectrum of issues currently facing both food processors and the farming sector.

"The European food system is dominated by just a handful of organisations. The scale of their operations - and their vast buying power - enables them to dictate terms and conditions not just to food processors, but also to agriculture itself,"​ as spokesperson for the Corporation said.

"The double whammy of globalisation and consolidation is spreading throughout the food supply chain, turning farmers into sub-contractors or 'cost-plus' producers for the food companies and retail chains."​

According to the Corporation, consolidation and demand-driven supply chains can be a force for positive change, as well. Because of their structure - and the size and influence of the companies at the helm - they can easily feed information and action down through the chain and drive environment-friendly practices right back to the land.

The agenda for the conference includes over 40 confirmed speakers. Extensive Q&A, roundtables, panel sessions and workgroups enable the programme to be tailored the programme directly to their needs. A complete list of the speakers can be found at the organisation's website​. There is also the opportunity to register for the conference on-line.

The corporation says that most of the major players with an interest in Europe's food supply chain will be attending the conference, making their views known. Topics will include: Europe's food system What's happening - and about to happen; Environmental fall out: Sustainability and protection issues that must now be tackled; Supply chain structure and pressure for change: What role does competition law play - and do investors or consumers have any real influence.