Brussels, 18 October 2024: Cooperation and partnership were at the centre of the second edition of the joint CEEREAL-FRUCOM annual conference in Brussels.

Ece Nevra Durukan, President of CEEREAL, emphasised that collective action is essential in addressing the dual challenge of promoting healthier diets and establishing more sustainable food systems: “While we have scientific knowledge regarding what constitutes a healthy diet, effecting behavioral change requires a collaborative effort involving information dissemination, communication, and education on the health benefits associated with the foods we consume. This can only be achieved through the cooperation of both the private and public sectors. The Whole Grain Partnership serves as an exemplary model in this regard.”

She added: “Adopting a plant-based diet significantly contributes to the development of more sustainable food systems, but even in this context, partnership across the entire value chain is crucial – from the farm to the fork, or as we express in our CEEREAL manifesto: from seed to spoon.”

The conference featured European Commission DG ENVI Director Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea and DG SANTE Director Klaus Berend as keynote speakers. They gave an outlook on what they believed is awaiting industry with regards to environmental and food-related legislation. Speakers on food safety, sustainability and nutrition from both the EU and beyond completed the list of distinguished speakers who gave practical insights and examples on how cooperation can work for the benefit of the consumers, the public and private sectors.