The European feed industry gathered in Bucharest to address critical supply chain vulnerabilities, trade relationships with Ukraine, and looming sustainability targets. Key discussions highlighted a strategic push for European protein autonomy and essential legislative reforms for feed additives.
The European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) held its 31st Congress from May 19 to 21, 2026, in Bucharest, Romania. Co-hosted by the Romanian National Association of Compound Feed Manufacturers (ANFNC) alongside their 13th Annual Conference, the high-level event focused heavily on securing supply chains amidst rising input costs, regulatory pressures, and shifting trade agreements.
“UKRAINE EMERGES AS THE CURE FOR EUROPE'S PROTEIN DEFICIT”
Pierre Bascou
Opening the debates, Pierre Bascou, Deputy Director General of DG AGRI at the European Commission, emphasized that trade remains a food security imperative due to Europe's structural dependency on imports for feed additives and high-protein meals. Bascou highlighted Ukraine’s potential to help reduce the European Union's protein deficit. Supporting this outlook, Vasile Varvaroi, President of ARCPA, noted that over 60% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports are currently directed to the EU. In response to rising regulatory and cost pressures, Elli Tsiforou, Secretary General of COPA-COGECA, the main lobby representing European farmers and agricultural cooperatives in Brussels, stressed the necessity of fairness and reciprocity in production standards to maintain a level playing field for European farmers, while calling for tools beyond the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to enhance crisis preparedness.
RED TAPE SLASHED FOR FEED ADDITIVES
Nicolas Coudry-Mesny
The technical sessions shifted the focus toward innovation in nutrition and circularity. Koen van Dyck from the European Commission outlined proposals in the food and feed safety omnibus that aim to ease operational bottlenecks, specifically the potential withdrawal of the 10-year limitation for feed additive authorizations. Industry leaders from Elanco, FEFANA, Trouw Nutrition, dsm-firmenich, and Huvepharma collectively called for a modernized legislative framework that permits environmental claims, ensuring Europe remains attractive for sustainable feed technology. Additionally, panelists explored the bioeconomy, highlighting how protein-rich co-products like DDGS and corn gluten meal from bioenergy production directly increase the circularity of livestock systems. Newly elected FEFAC President Nicolas Coudry-Mesny concluded the event by calling for genuine out-of-the-box thinking and strengthened value chain cooperation to minimize supply chain disruptions.