Industry organization: epidemic affects EU plant protein supply

In a letter to the EU ’s executive body on April 22, the European Union ’s Agricultural Trade Organization Oilseed Processors Association (Copa) and the Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Cogeca) regarding the Covid-19 crisis The by-product industry (production of rapeseed and sunflower meal, vinasse protein feed) and the potential impact of the EU ethanol industry expressed concern.

 

Due to the reduction in planting area, European rapeseed production is expected to be approximately 17 million tons in the 2020/2021 marketing year. According to data provided by Copa and Cogeca, the acreage of protein-rich crops has been reduced by approximately 30% from the highest level in history (2017/2018).

 

In addition, EU agricultural representatives warned that if the COVID-19 epidemic spreads faster, the supply of oilseeds in major producing countries (the United States, South America and India) may be interrupted.

 

In this context, Pedro Gallardo, chairman of the Copa-Cogeca Oilseeds and Protein Crops Working Group, said that the best way to increase EU output in the short term is to let the European Commission temporarily lift nitrogen fixation in ecologically important areas Some restrictions on crop plant protection products.

 

Agricultural organizations said the EU ’s supply of protein-rich non-GMO by-products may be affected by the decline in biofuel production from EU raw materials such as rapeseed and sunflower. If vegetable oil is accumulated due to epidemic prevention and control, social distance measures, and transportation restrictions have a joint effect on biofuel consumption, then the situation may deteriorate further in the coming months. The saturation of vegetable oil storage space will have an impact on the European crushing industry, which in turn will affect the EU feed supply.