Millers seek incentives for research, greater policy coherence

Long‐terms concerns on wheat supply in the EU dominated this week’s annual conference of the European Flour Miller’s association in Brussels.

The association said that the forum enabled a platform for industry wide discussion and highlighted key elements for action for the flour milling industry – in particular “the need ​for a strategic vision of supply of wheat at EU level in a global market.”​

Hubert François, president of association, pointed out that one of the European flour millers’ key challenges “will be securing regular supply of sustainable agricultural raw materials for a rising world population on limited arable land and facing the impact of climate change.”​

Herman Versteijlen, director for economics at the EC's agriculture department, speaking at the flour millers’ conference, said that the total planted area of soft wheat in the EU is expected to grow by just 1 per cent in 2011.

The predicted 1 per cent growth in wheat plantings is below a forecast increase in the bloc's total cereals area in 2011 of 1.5 percent, he added.

"For me that is a bit of a surprise. I would have expected sowings of cereals to be a little bit more on the basis​ of present prices and price developments over the next year,"​ Versteijlen told the delegates.

Wheat supply is also high on the agenda of EU decision‐makers in the context of the discussions on the CAP post‐2013.
Earlier this year, the European Flour Millers Association had pressed the Commission for reduced duties on low and medium quality common wheat amid fears of dwindling carry over stocks within the EU.

And February saw such intervention action been taken by the EC, with the announcement of a suspension of those duties until the end of June 2011.