Grazia Calabrò

The European agro-food system in the outlook of the adoption of transatlantic trade and investment partnership

European Union (EU) together with the USA is engaged in the definition of an international negotiation called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). When completed, the negotiation should lead to the elimination of tariffs and reduction of non-tariff barriers. It is not easy to manage this problem as EU and USA have a different legislative approach on critical themes such as food security and environmental safeguarding. It is therefore evident that the agreements on non-tariff barriers products will be through a mutual recognition rather than the standardisation of regulations. This means that producers operating in systems with more stringent regulations will have highest production costs and less competitiveness. The risk of a modification of European regulation is concrete even if, at present, EU wants to maintain the current level of guarantee.

Marketing Strategies for the Agri-Food Sector: Adaptation Requirements and Contradictions

The hotly debated topics of global warming and climate change cut across all sectors of human activity, influencing policy decisions and modifying consumer habits and lifestyles. The food industry also makes a significant contribution to climate change in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, at every stage of the production process. Indeed, there is no doubt that agriculture and climate change are characterized by a complex cause-effect relationship. This chapter analyses the effects of the hoped for reorganization of the agri-food sector in with a view to sustainability, underlining that this must regard three main considerations: the need to blend the dual production and conservation functions of agriculture; the need to create consumer lifestyles that make dietary and environmental well-being compatible; the identification of appropriate certification and consumer information tools which highlight the measures undertaken in order to limit the effects on climate along the whole food production chain.

The use of GMOs and consumers' rights in the European Union

Most European consumers are against the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) products. Nevertheless, the European Union (EU) does not set particular limits to GMOs intake while it is restrictive with regard to GMOs farming. As consequence nine Member States, including France, Italy and Germany, have adopted measures to forbid GMOs farming on their land. Worldwide, the EU is the main importer of GMOs products for feeds and this is not consistent with the choice made by these countries. This could result in any reduction in the appreciation of consumers towards quality products and could jeopardise the economic value of the entire quality product section. As consequence, the voluntary certification could represent an effective answer to overcome the normative ambiguities and to create new market opportunities, for the benefit of both producers and consumers.